Marlins shown to be above average with fundamentals

WASHINGTON -- For a last-place team, the Marlins can take pride in the fact they aren't giving runs away.

Considering their record, the Marlins have been remarkably good at minimizing their unearned run totals. They've yielded just 43 on the season, which is tied with the Rangers for 10th fewest of any MLB team.

The Orioles pace the Majors with 28, and the Reds are second at 32.

Every team ahead of Miami has a winning record, and they either will be heading to the playoffs or they remain in contention for a Wild Card berth.

Marlins infield coach Perry Hill is a stickler for fundamentals, and he notes that it is rare for teams with losing records to not have much higher unearned run totals because errors tend to prove costly.

Miami has the second-worst record in baseball. Yet, the team that is last in wins, the Astros, also has allowed the most unearned runs -- 78. The White Sox have the third-worst mark in the game, and they rank 29th in unearned runs with 76.

Consider the A's, who are primed to clinch the American League West and have allowed 46 unearned runs. The Braves, about to wrap up the National League East, have given up just 34, which is third.

The Dodgers, winners of the NL West, are 24th in unearned runs allowed, giving up 58.

"It's fundamentals," Hill said. "Making the routine plays, and being in the right position. That's it."