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Justin · 04-05-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

WASHINGTON -- The Marlins had the Nationals just where they wanted them Wednesday. Yet, the game slipped away on a chilly 53-degree afternoon at RFK Stadium.

In position to claim their first sweep in Washington and of the season, closer Jorge Julio was on the mound in the ninth looking to preserve a two-run lead and third-straight win.

The Nationals, however, had other ideas.

Dmitri Young's RBI single that landed about one foot fair down the left-field line completed a three-run ninth inning and lifted the Nationals to a 7-6 comeback win Wednesday in the series finale.

"We had the right guy in the right place, and you feel good about it," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It's just a blip on the radar screen. We've just got to keep going.

"Yeah, it's going to happen. There hasn't been a guy yet who hasn't blown a save or given up a run. We'll go on."

Resiliency was a big part in the Marlins finishing 78-84 in 2006 after they got off to an 11-31 start. Now, having taken two of three, the club heads back to Florida and into an off-day Thursday before facing the Phillies in the home opener Friday.

"When you've got a good team, with a lot of young guys, everybody stays together," Julio said. "Everybody says, 'Hey, forget about it.'"

After rolling to comfortable wins in their first two games, the Marlins set up Julio to encounter his first save situation since being obtained from the Diamondbacks for Yusmeiro Petit a week before Spring Training ended.

The Nationals capitalized on a few bloop hits and a couple of hard shots in the ninth in pulling out the first win for their new manager, Manny Acta.

Ronnie Belliard lifted a bloop double to left, and he scored on Robert Fick's sharp RBI single to left-center. Fick was moved to second on Felipe Lopez's sacrifice bunt. Then Kory Casto's RBI single, a hard shot that deflected off the glove of shortstop Hanley Ramirez, tied it. Ryan Zimmerman's floater into right field for a single put runners on the corners with one out.

"Sometimes, when you throw good pitches, and they get a base hit from a blooper or something, you say, 'Oh, wow. Bad luck today.' You go in the next day, ready to go," Julio said.

The Official Site of the Florida Marlins: Florida Marlins' News

Probably not the way he wanted his debut with the Marlins to go. Meh, he's got a long season ahead of him. Hopefully he want be to frustrated with himself and goes out there for the next game and do his thing.