Marlins Set Monthly Win Mark

    It was a pitching duel between Anibal Sanchez and Edwin Jackson as the Miami Marlins got by the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Tuesday night at Marlins Park. The Marlins set a franchise record as they won their 20th game this month. They had 19 wins back in August 1997. Miami crawled within 1 1/2 games of the Nationals for first place.
    Washington was hitless against Sanchez in the first four innings as he retired 12 of the first 13 batters. Jackson gave up a base hit to Hanley Ramirez in the first inning, which was the only hit for  Miami in the first five innings.
    The Nationals picked up one run in the fifth inning. Ian Desmond started it off with a single to left field. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by John Buck. Rick Ankiel struck out swinging which brought Corey Brown to the plate. He pulled off a suicide squeeze play with a bunt in front of the plate and Desmond scored for a Washington 1-0 lead.
    Miami evened up the score in the six inning as Omar Infante smacked a one-out double to the deep left field. Ramirez then lined out to center field and Ankiel overthrew the cut-off man on the infield and the ball stopped at the fence of the Marlins third base dugout. Infante was able to cruise into third. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a double into left field to score Infante.
    The Marlins took the lead for the first time as Chris Coghlan made things happen in the seventh inning. He picked up a single to center field with one out. Jackson attempted to pick him off but the ball went by first baseman Adam LaRoche. Coghlan advanced to third base on the play. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Greg Dobbs to left field.
    Sanchez pitched seven innings and gave up one run on three hits with five strikeouts while Jackson went 6 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on five hits.
    Ramirez extended the Marlins lead to 3-1 as he lead off with a solo home run to left field on the first pitch of the eighth inning. It was his eighth homer this season. Heath Bell came in and got his ninth save this year.