WASHINGTON (AP) - Taking part in batting practice is simply a part of an NL pitcher’s routine. In the case of Marlins right-hander Jacob Turner, it will cost him a game.
Turner strained his pitching shoulder while brushing up on his hitting before Miami’s 5-0 loss to Washington on Tuesday night, and he’ll have to skip his scheduled start Wednesday against the Nationals.
“He’s going to be evaluated tomorrow and we’ll go from there,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said after Tuesday’s game. “It’s just something that cropped up today.”
Turner will be replaced in the second game of the series by left-hander Brad Hand, who has been in the bullpen. Hand has allowed one hit in five scoreless innings over a pair of relief appearances in 2014. He is 2-10 with a 4.23 ERA since his major league debut in 2011, with 15 starts among his 22 career appearances.
So all in all, Tuesday was not the greatest day for the Marlins, who had been off to an NL-best 5-2 start, a year removed from 100 losses.
They were limited to three singles by Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez during his six innings. Gonzalez allowed one baserunner to get as far as second, and struck out five hitters. He retired his last 10 batters and is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA.
Adam LaRoche had three hits and drove in a run off Henderson Alvarez (0-2). Anthony Rendon went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as Washington improved to 5-2.
Miami entered averaging a majors-best six runs a game, but they couldn’t solve Gonzalez or four relievers.
“These guys have some good pitchers, but we got to find a way to score some runs,” Redmond said. “We had a couple opportunities. We just didn’t get a big hit. But I’ve said that a lot over the last couple years, too.”
Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4 with a single; it was his first game in 2014 without an RBI. Miami put runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh against Drew Storen, but pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs flied out.
Gonzalez, who was born in Hialeah, Fla., has won his last four starts against the Marlins. His 3-0 mark against them in 2013 was part of the Nationals’ 14-5 edge in the series against Miami.
On Tuesday, the Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first. Jayson Werth hit a two-out double to left-center and LaRoche followed with an RBI single.
With two outs in the sixth, LaRoche was at first and Bryce Harper at third after both singled, and a pitch momentarily got away from catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. LaRoche took off, and Saltalamacchia’s throw was dropped by second baseman Jeff Baker, who was charged with an error. LaRoche was safe, and Harper scored without a throw, making it 2-0. Rendon then tacked on a run-scoring single, before adding a two-run double off Mike Dunn in the eighth.
Rendon, usually Washington’s second baseman, started at third because Ryan Zimmerman is dealing with a sore throwing shoulder.
NOTES: The announced attendance was 21,728, about half of capacity. … Zimmerman hasn’t played in the field since Saturday but said he hopes to be back at his usual spot against Miami on Wednesday. He is making adjustments, including changing his throwing motion and practicing less to ease up on wear and tear. … Five of Miami’s eight position players in the starting lineup Tuesday were signed as free agents in the offseason. … The Marlins were 26-55 on the road last season, 12-26 at NL East opponents. … Miami has the third-youngest roster in the majors, and is one of only three teams without a rookie.
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