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Wed, Jul 1st 2009, 11:09
Hanley's four RBIs lead Marlins to win
RBIs have been raining down on Hanley Ramirez of late, and the 25-year-old sensation tacked on four more on Tuesday night.
With Ramirez’s bat providing plenty of thunder, the Marlins rallied to a 7-5 win over the Nationals in rain-shortened game that was called after a one hour, 29-minute delay in the bottom of the seventh inning at Land Shark Stadium.
Ramirez and the rain actually worked in the Marlins’ favor, as they claimed their second rain-shortened victory in 12 days. On June 18 at Fenway Park, the Marlins beat the Red Sox, 2-1, in a game called in the top of the sixth inning.
“Mother Nature is on our side, I guess, for now,” Marlins center fielder Cody Ross said. “We know being here [South Florida], you’re going to have a lot of these rain delays and stoppages. You just hope that you can score some runs. Luckily today, we did.”
The Marlins improved to 8-0 against the Nationals this season, and moved to within 1 1/2 games of the Phillies — who lost to the Braves, 5-4 — for first place in the National League East.
The power of Ramirez was crucial in Florida’s 19th comeback victory of the season.
Ramirez, who is building a stronger case to become the National League’s starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, established a Marlins record by recording at least one RBI in nine straight games. That matches the most by any player in the big leagues this season. Joe Mauer of the Twins did it from May 7-16.
Ramirez has 22 RBIs in total during the stretch, and his four on Tuesday were crucial.
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