Marlins 6, Nationals 5 (11 innings)
Tough loss for the Nationals, who seemed to come up short on every 50-50 play Friday night against Florida. From Omar Infante’s brilliant slide to score the eventual winning run to Michael Morse’s potential game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning that turned into a double by about a foot, it was that kind of game.
The highlight for Washington was a fifth-inning catch by center fielder Roger Bernadina, who was caught off guard by a Mike Stanton drive, used his speed to make up the difference and then made a diving snow-cone of a catch. He even managed to hold onto the ball despite landing hard. You’ll see it on every highlight play from now to the end of the season. It was that good. Check out the video here. Oh – and it also saved two runs and ended the inning, keeping the game tied at 4.
“I definitely don’t think that’ll be the last spectacular catch he’ll make,” said Nats shortstop Ian Desmond, who as a teammate of Bernadina in both the minor leagues and in Washington has seen him make a few.
Bernadina, remember, is only here because of an injury to outfielder Rick Ankiel (wrist). He began the season at Triple-A Syracuse instead. But with Michael Morse (knee) nursing an injury earlier this month, too, there was an obvious opportunity. Bernadina hopes to take advantage of it.
“We certainly hope so,” Nats manager Jim Riggleman said. “Bernie’s shown us great flashes at times. He’s getting an opportunity to play. We need a leadoff hitter. And he’s playing pretty well.”
Bernadina’s catch just about overshadowed the loss. “That thing had an extra gear to it and took off,” Riggleman said. But Bernadina never gave up on it. He wouldn’t concede it as his greatest catch afterwards, though did say he figured the ball was way over his head at the crack of the bat. This is a guy who has made some brilliant plays defensively in his time, as Desmond noted. Also said he wasn’t surprised it stayed in his glove. Once Bernadina had it that thing wasn’t going anywhere. He landed on his back, but claimed he was fine. It just took him a few extra beats to rise. Looked like his arm got caught underneath his torso and that didn’t feel too stellar, either.
“I hope so. I take it day-to-day,” Bernadina said when asked if days like this one let him imagine sticking around for the duration. “I’m here right now and can’t worry about tomorrow.”
That ridiculous catch wasn’t Bernadina’s only highlight, either. Just a few minutes before he drove home two runs with a double to tie the game in the first place. Since being recalled from Syracuse for a second time this season on May 7 he is 6-for-22 with four walks, a double and just three strikeouts. Bernadina has started the last six games in center field in Ankiel’s absence.
“[Bernadina is] a threat to steal bases, he can bunt. He’s showing that. But I think this is really the time for him,” Desmond said. “In the past he hadn’t really showed he could bunt. He wasn’t really running a whole lot. I think the atmosphere we got going right now everyone is kind of running and I think he feels a little more comfortable, not so worried about getting caught. Unbelievably excited for him. He definitely deserves it and hopefully he gets another shot.”
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