Florida Marlins Lose Final Game At Stadium Finale

The Florida Marlins played their last game ever at a stadium that's been their home since 1993. The team, who will be renamed the Miami Marlins on November 11, lost to the Washington Nationals 3-1 at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday. Nationals starting pitcher Steven Strasburg(1-1) made his fifth start this season going six scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out ten. He retired 13 straight Marlins before he was pulled by manager Davey Johnson. Marlins starter Chris Volstad, a Palm Beach Gardens native, gave up a two-run single to shallow center by Ian Desmond in the fifth inning that scored Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and Steve Lombardozzi. Volstad(5-13)went six innings, allowed two runs on three hits and picked up five strikeouts. The Marlins got a two-out rally in the seventh inning. Following a Logan Morrison walk, Gaby Sanchez nailed a ball to deep right-center field where Rick Ankiel and Jason Werth were confused who would catch the ball, and it dropped between the two scoring Morrison from first for the Marlins only run in the game. Florida left two men on base to end the seventh after an infield hit by Bryan Petersen. Washington got a lead-off triple from former Miami Hurricane Alex Cora in the eighth innning against Ryan Webb. Two batters later, Roger Bernadina singled to right and increased their lead 3-1. Jack McKeon, who managed his final game with the Marlins, received a standing ovation prior to the start of the game. He leaves with game with a 1,051-990 record. Rodriguez, another person who led the Marlins to a World Series title in 2003, received a standing prior to his at-bat in the second inning. The Florida Marlins finished with a 781-723 record in 1,504 games at their only home ballpark. After the game, the Marlins held a postgame ceremony celebrating the top ten moments in franchise history and named their all-time team.