Sanchez Returns As Fish Win Big

Anibal Sanchez took the mound for the first time this season on Thursday and came away a winner.    The win was a 12-2 rout over the Colorado Rockies and was the Marlins’ second win in a row.   The win kept the fish one and a half games out of first place in the National League East and improved the team’s record to 58-51.    Jeremy Hermida had another big day totaling three hits on a day in which he was the topic of trade rumors.

Sanchez threw for five and two thirds innings allowing two earned runs while striking out four.   The starter was lifted in the sixth after loading the bases but would not be charged with any further runs as reliever Justin Miller escaped the jam.    Miller added two additional innings of scoreless relief to give the rest of the bull pen some rest in a blowout win.   Joe Nelson pitched the ninth to finish the game and did so in perfect fashion.

There were two home runs hit in this game by the Marlins.   An early blast was hit by Jorge Cantu in the first giving him 19 on the year.   Hanley Ramirez added his 25th home run of the season in the fifth inning to increase the already big lead for the Marlins to 11-1.   Four batters had multi hit games for the fish.   Besides Hermida’s three hit day,  Cantu, Dan Uggla and Wes Helms all had two hit games of their own.

On Friday, the series resumes as Ubaldo Jimenez takes on Chris Volstad.

Rhodes Acquired to Help Pen

The Marlins traded for some help on Thursday by making a deadline deal for Arthur Rhodes of the Seattle Mariners.   Rhodes is a left-handed reliever that will be looked at to take a load off of Renyel Pinto.   In return for Rhodes, the fish sent starting pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez to Seattle.

Rhodes is a 17 year veteran in the major leagues and has a 2.86 E.R.A this season in 36 games of relief.   Left-handed hitters are hitting an abysmal .200 against Rhodes making him attractive to the Marlins whose main rivals include left handed threats.   Hernandez pitched for AA Carolina  and AAA Albuqerque in the Marlins system this year and had a 6.47 E.R.A combined on both levels.   The young pitcher was acquired in the Paul LoDuca trade when the catcher was traded to the New York Mets in 2005.

To make room on the active roster for Rhodes, Robert Andino was optioned to AAA following the completion of the trade.

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