MLB

• Helms' game-winning single lifts Marlins over Nationals

  
  

  Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Wes Helms' RBI single in the Marlins' final at- bat gave Florida a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals in the second contest of a three-game set at Dolphin Stadium.

  Dan Uggla worked out of an 0-2 count to draw a walk to lead off the home ninth, and moved to second on a groundout to second base. After Josh Willingham was intentionally walked, Helms came through with a liner up the middle off of Saul Rivera (1-1), and center fielder Lastings Milledge couldn't throw out Uggla at the plate.

  Marlins starter Burke Badenhop pitched only three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. Renyel Pinto pitched three scoreless innings in relief, and Mike Jacobs and Jorge Cantu each tallied three hits to snap Florida's two-game slide. Kevin Gregg (2-0) got the win despite allowing two runs -- both unearned -- in the top of the ninth.

  Hanley Ramirez booted a routine ground ball off the bat of Cristian Guzman to begin the ninth, and Nick Johnson drew a walk two batters latter. Both runners moved into scoring position after a wild pitch, and Austin Kearns came through with a two-run single to right.

  Shawn Hill, making his season debut after being activated off the 15-day disabled list, lasted five innings and was credited for four runs on eight hits and no walks for Washington, which has lost 13 of its last 15 games. Felipe Lopez had two hits in the loss.

  Lopez opened the game with a single and came all the way around to score after a wild pitch, double and Johnson's RBI groundout.

  Washington put two more on the board in the third after Wily Mo Pena singled off the end of his bat to right-center and Johnny Estrada lined to right, scoring Johnson and Milledge, respectively.

  Ramirez brought one back in the bottom of the inning, stealing second after a two-out single and advancing to third on the catcher Estrada's errant throw. Uggla sent a shot just over Kearns' glove in right to cut into the three-run deficit.

  Florida opened its three-run sixth with a triple, single and double, chasing Hill from the game in favor of reliever Jesus Colome, who promptly surrendered a deep sacrifice fly from Cody Ross to tie the game, 3-3.

  Cantu scored on second baseman Lopez's fielding error, and Florida took its first lead, 4-3.

  Willingham, whose triple started the big sixth inning, began a two-out rally with a double in the seventh, and scored an insurance run on Jacobs' liner down the right field line for a two-run edge. Game Notes

  Ramirez, who went 1-for-5 at the plate, has now reached base safely in a franchise-record 42 straight games at home...The Nationals were again without catcher Paul Lo Duca, who was placed on the DL Friday because of a right hand injury...In the series rubber match on Sunday, Washington will send Odalis Perez to the mound to face off against Florida's Scott Olsen...This was the third win for the Marlins in their final at-bat this season, improving their record in one-run games to 5-0...Florida committed four errors, while Washington tallied three.

  04/19 23:20:16 ET