Manager Fredi Gonzalez has ideas on next season's encore after four infielders made history Friday by becoming the first foursome to each hit at least 25 home runs. Three of those hitters have 30-plus home runs.
"I think there's room for improvement in all aspects," he said. "You can improve your batting average, cut down on your strikeouts, you can improve defensively." The Marlins have 192 home runs this year, but they lead the majors with 1,266 strikeouts. All four history-making infielders have at least 100 strikeouts apiece: first baseman Mike Jacobs (32 home runs, 110 strikeouts), second baseman Dan Uggla (30, 154), shortstop Hanley Ramirez (30, 118) and third baseman Jorge Cantu (26, 105).
Jacobs has a theory on the whiffs and longballs.
"Playing in a ballpark this big, you kind of swing a bit harder, you're more aggressive," he said. "That might have something to do with the strikeouts."
MARLINS 8, NATIONALS 7: Florida staged its biggest comeback of the season, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning. PH Josh Willingham delivered the go-ahead single, and LHP Andrew Miller got the win in relief. The Marlins didn't get their first hit of the game until Jorge Cantu singled with two outs in the sixth. RHP Anibal Sanchez was solid, allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings.
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