Cabrera struggles in his first start of the season
The Nationals fervently hope their first series of the season is not an omen of things to come.
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But it certainly doesn’t look good through the first three games of the year. Washington was swept on Wednesday afternoon by the Florida Marlins after a 6-4 loss at Dolphin Stadium.
Nats starter Daniel Cabrera at least lasted six innings this time — double what John Lannan and Scott Olsen provided earlier in the week. But he also allowed five runs on seven hits. Washington’s offense, meanwhile, squandered plenty of scoring chances, including bases-loaded situations in the sixth and ninth innings.
The Marlins led 6-2 entering the eighth inning, but allowed a run in each of the next two frames. With the bases loaded, just one out and the lead down to 6-4, closer Matt Lindstrom struck out former Marlins outfielder Josh Willingham and got Austin Kearns to line out.
Kearns, Adam Dunn and Alberto Gonzalez all had RBIs for the Nats. Relievers Mike Hinckley, Saul Rivera and Joe Beimel combined to allow one run over the final three innings in relief of Cabrera.
