The Marlins are getting solid contributions from their bench, in particularly their pinch hitters.
"You take out the regulars and those guys always pick you up," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Marlins pinch hitters are 7-for-15 (.438), tied with the Dodgers for tops in the NL. Alfredo Amezaga is 2-for-2 and Ross Gload is 3-for-5, giving him a career .303 average (30-for-99) as a pinch hitter.
Gload has delivered pinch hits in each of his last three appearances, but he didn't get a chance to extend that streak Sunday. That's because Gload was in the starting lineup, batting fourth and playing first base.
"If you come to the field and you're not in the lineup, there's a good chance you're going to get into the game," Gload said. "From the fifth inning, I try to stay loose. We'll take some swings in the (indoor batting) cage."
MARLINS 7, NATIONALS 4: For the third straight game, the Marlins won after tying the game in the ninth inning. After consecutive extra-inning wins, they won in the ninth inning Sunday on Cody Ross' three-run double after 3B Emilio Bonifacio walked to open the inning and scored on C John Baker's double. RHP Chris Volstad allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, but five relievers combined to allow just one run the rest of the game.
