It is a soggy day at Nationals Park which is celebrating "Pups In The Park" Day where fans can bring their canine family members to take in a game of baseball, but on the field neither the Washington Nationals nor the Florida Marlins seem to be dogging it as they have so far fought to a 0-0 tie going into the sixth-inning.
Nats starter Livan Hernandez has given up three hits and walked one, but he has struck out three Fish and have not allowed them to score. Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez is having another stellar outing striking out six Nats, but there will be no excitement of a possible no-hitter as Sanchez has given up one hit to left fielder Laynce Nix. Nix also spoiled a Sanchez no-hit bid last week.
Shortstop Ian Desmond is out of today's game with a sore quad, but is available for pinch hit opportunities says manager Jim Riggleman. Also available is newly called up reliever Cole Kimball who replaces reliever Brian Broderick after he was designated for assignment. It will be Kimball's MLB debut if he enters Saturday afternoon's game.