Magic #10 as AJ Cole gets the win in Miami thanks to Murphy/Rendon

This game was close for 6.0 innings at a score of 3-to-2 when the Nationals exploded for 4-runs in the top of the 7th inning after Raudy Read got a pinch-hit single which was the first hit of his career. AJ Cole had 1 earned run on his ledger over 5 2/3 innings for a very good start. The bullpen shut down the Marlins the rest of the way for the final score of 7-to-2.

Both Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon were a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Murphy had 3 RBIs in the game and Rendon had 4 RBIs. Rendon’s league leading WAR increased to +6.5 with Giancarlo Stanton behind him at +6.2 as Stanton hit his MLB leading 53rd home run last night.

“Make good decisions [at the plate],” Daniel Murphy said about his hitting approach. “Attainable goals.Just getting a good pitch to hit and putting a good swing on it. Slow and steady.”

Murphy had been in a deep slump, and Dusty Baker did not rest Murphy rather he kept playing him to come out of it. It worked as Murphy looked like great tonight.

With a 5-run lead, Dusty Baker still opted to go with “The Firm” to close the game out. The game ended on an Alejandro De Aza leap above the wall to save Doolittle from 2-runs on his ledger.

“Everybody gets out of sync some time,” Dusty Baker explained about Daniel Murphy’s slump. “Murphy is going to hit. Murphy is fine. Nobody hits all the time.”

With this win, the Nationals lengthened their NL East lead and brought the Magic # to 10.

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