The Miami Marlins split their Friday doubleheader with the Washington Nationals by taking the second game 5-2. Josh Johnson was fantastic for the Fish, pitching into the ninth before Washington put together a minor threat that forced Ozzie Guillen to make a move. Johnson allowed a run in the bottom of the first on a Ryan Zimmerman sac fly, but the big righty completely settled in after that to shut down the first-place Nats. He was one out shy of a complete game performance, pitching 8.2 innings, striking out nine and allowing just one earned run.
On offense, a three-run rally in the top of the sixth against Gio Gonzalez proved to be the difference. Gonzalez has been one of the best pitchers in the game this year but the Fish strung together five hits in the inning, including four straight singles with two outs. Carlos Lee came through with a two-run single and Greg Dobbs followed that up with single to knock in Jose Reyes.
Lee, who is reportedly on waivers, added another RBI late in the game on a groundout against Gonzalez. But Johnson needed only the three-run rally in the sixth.
Mark Buerhle will try to build off the Friday night win for the Marlins when he faces Jordan Zimmermann on Saturday in DC.
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