Jason Marquis shines as Washington Nationals defeat Houston Astros 5-2 – MLB Update
Jason Marquis put up a solo show with his eight unbeatable innings to help the Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros 5-2 at Minute Maid Park on Monday, July 18.
Marquis was tasked with pitching nine innings by his team manager and he did not disappoint him.
"My mentality is always nine," Marquis said. "Obviously, with the bullpen having to eat up some innings yesterday, I obviously wanted to go as long as possible to freshen up their arms."
Jordan Lyles, Marquis’ rival on Monday, also pitched strong innings but failed to remain absolutely effective in holding the Nationals’ offence in check. Marquis, with his 3.92 ERA this season, was certainly way too imposing to be played.
"I've been feeling pretty good all year," Marquis said. "I had a good sinker-slider combo tonight. I was able to get ahead early and get some quick outs."
Michael Morse formally opened the Nationals’ account in the fifth inning just when the game had remained scoreless throughout other innings. Morse homered to left to give a 1-0 lead to the Nationals against the straining Astros’ offence.
Carlos Corporan, however, had a double to right to level the score and Carlos Lee scored a single in the sixth to give the Astros a 2-1 lead. But despite the two runs that were taken in quick succession, the Nationals did not replace the starter.
Ryan Zimmerman drove in a single in the top of the seventh inning to level the score for the Nationals as Lyles pitched his seventh. Once the score was tied, Marquis came down harder on the Astros’ offence.
He wrapped the eighth inning without giving any run, putting an end to a wonderful spell which saw him give up six hits and only two runs.
“He pitched a great game and I thought he was in command all day long," Johnson said of Marquis. "I thought he made bad pitch to Lee with a guy in scoring position but other than that he was quite impressive."
While Marquis was pitching into the eighth, the Astros’ manager did not feel the need to change their starter either. The decision, more or less, proved cataclysmic as the Nationals’ offence shone in the eighth to completely change the map of the game.
The 4-hit three-run ninth inning saw the Nationals acquire an impenetrable control of the game. Ryan Zimmerman drove in his second run and Laynce Nix hit a two-run RBI to take the score to 5-2 for the Nationals.
Drew Storen relieved Marquis and proved the right choice with his flawless pitches, turning the lead into a 5-2 victory for the Washington Nationals.
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