Murphy's HR In 13th Lifts Marlins To 4-1 Victory
WASHINGTON (CBS4) -- Stephen Strasburg allowed one run and four hits over six innings in his third start after Tommy John surgery, but Donnie Murphy's two-run home run in the 13th inning helped give the Florida Marlins a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.
Murphy entered the game at shortstop in the 10th inning as part of a double switch.
John Buck led off the 13th with a single and Murphy hit a 1-1 pitch from Colin Balester (1-4) into the Marlins' bullpen in left-center field for his first homer this year.
Mike Stanton doubled in Omar Infante later in the inning to give the Marlins a three-run cushion.
Clay Hensley (5-6) struck out the side in the 12th inning for the win. Leo Nunez pitched the 13th for his 36th save.
Wilson Ramos hit his 13th homer in the fifth inning for the Nationals, who have lost the first two games of the three-game series.
Strasburg's night was much more efficient than his last start Sept. 11, when he threw 57 pitches in three innings. Against the Marlins, he needed just 61 pitches for an outing twice as long.
The right-hander took eight pitches to get leadoff hitter Emilio Bonifacio to fly out to shortstop. It was the last time he'd have such an extended at-bat -- he finished three entire innings with eight pitches or fewer.
Strasburg finished the 1-2-3 first by striking out Stanton on three pitches, the final one a 99 mph fastball. It was one of just three strikeouts for Strasburg, the fewest in his 15 career starts, but he didn't need the strikeouts as he quickly made his way through the Marlins' lineup.
Nationals manager Davey Johnson said before the game Strasburg would have "a much longer leash" against the Marlins, guessing he'd let Strasburg throw around 70 pitches. Strasburg threw 56 pitches over five innings in his first start back from surgery.
"I was more worried the first two times out in the big leagues, with the pressure and publicity and everything, I didn't want to take him to where he was tired," Johnson said.
However, when the seventh inning started, Johnson sent out reliever Henry Rodriguez rather than let Strasburg continue. Strasburg left with the game tied at 1 and has not had a decision yet this season.
Florida starter Chris Volstad also left with a no-decision despite a strong performance. Volstad allowed one run and six hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out three. Volstad has gone nine starts without earning a win.
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the third. Volstad led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Infante's sacrifice fly to left.
Both teams left runners stranded on third in extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, Gaby Sanchez led off with a bloop single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout, but Greg Dobbs grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Ian Desmond led off the 11th for Washington and reached second on a throwing error by pitcher Steve Cishek. Desmond moved to third on Roger Bernadina's sacrifice bunt. Chishek intentionally walked Ryan Zimmerman and got Michael Morse to ground into a double play.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
