The Washington Nationals dropped a 6-5 11-inning Friday night game to the Florida Marlins Friday night, but they look to rebound in a Saturday afternoon game at Nationals Park. In order to do that they will have to produce without a key player and will have to get by a pitcher than pitched six-innings of no-hit baseball against Washington just last week.
That pitcher was Florida right-hander Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 3.46 ERA). He was absolutely dominate against a floundering Nationals offense striking out 11. Sanchez is 6-0 against the Nationals in his career. To oppose him, the Nationals will turn to their veteran workhorse Livan Hernandez (3-4, 4.29 ERA) who will be looking to erase the last game he faced the Marlins from his mind. In that game he gave up six runs on eight hits. Hernandez has not beaten the Marlins since April of 2009 when he was a member of the New York Mets.
The Nats hope there is more magic in the glove and bat of centerfielder Roger Bernadina who made an absolutely spectacular catch in the outfield Friday night while going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base. Washington will be without their starting shortstop Ian Desmond as he has been given the day off to nurse a sore hamstring.
NATIONALS LINE-UP
Roger Bernadina - CF
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Jayson Werth - RF
Laynce Nix - LF
Adam LaRoche - 1B
Wilson Ramos - C
Jerry Hairston Jr. - 3B
Alex Cora - SS
Livan Hernandez - SP