Latos provides spark on the mound, at the plate
Right-hander allows two runs over 6 1/3 innings, adds RBI single vs. Nats
MIAMI -- What Mat Latos did on Friday night didn't go into the boxscore as a personal victory, but the right-hander matched Jordan Zimmermann on Friday night, which proved crucial in the Marlins' 3-2 win over the Nationals.
Latos, who didn't make it past the fifth inning in each of his first three starts, allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings at Marlins Park. He gave his club a chance, and in the eighth inning, Miami capitalized.
"It was good to see him get out there and be able to pitch deep into the game," manager Mike Redmond said. "He just ran out of gas there."
Latos was certainly active, on the mound and at the plate. In the third inning, he gave the ball a ride, crushing a Zimmermann offering to the warning track in left-center before Jayson Werth ran it down.
Video: WSH@MIA: Werth makes nice running grab to rob Latos
In the fifth inning, with Miami down a run, Latos lined an RBI single to center off Zimmermann, which tied the score. Miami grabbed the lead on Dee Gordon's single.
Video: WSH@MIA: Latos helps his own cause with RBI single
After running the bases, Latos was a bit winded in the sixth inning. He walked Denard Span to open the inning, and with two outs, Bryce Harper ripped an RBI single.
In the seventh inning, Latos was lifted with one out and runners on first and second. A.J. Ramos stepped in and ended the threat by striking out Dan Uggla and getting pinch-hitter Reed Johnson to bounce to third.
Video: WSH@MIA: Ramos escapes a jam in the top of the 7th
"First time this year I got to see the seventh inning," Latos said. "That was great. All the running around. All the added adrenaline. It kind of wore me out a little bit.
"I felt like I threw the ball well. I got out of a couple of jams when I needed to, and I got myself into some. That's not what you want to do. I don't want to put A.J. in that situation, one out, guy on second and first. Tie ballgame. It's not something I really like doing. I'm glad that he came through. I was pumped he came through."