[jg2977]

🎙️ NORM MACDONALD — NL WILD CARD SERIES, GAME 1 RECAP

Well… the Miami Marlins defeated the Washington Nationals, 7–5, in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Which is good news for Miami.
And very bad news for Washington.
Because now they’re losing.
Now the hero of the game was Felipe Lopez, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, a walk, and—according to sources—a pulse.
He was named Player of the Game, which makes sense, because everyone else was mostly just… around.
Lopez homered in the first inning, which really set the tone early.
The tone being: “Uh oh.”
⚾ THE BIG MOMENT
Now the real backbreaker came in the third inning when Ray Calder—a man best known for finishing fifth in triples in 1926—hit a two-run homer.
That’s right.
Not first.
Not second.
Fifth.
But in 1931?
Suddenly Babe Ruth.
Calder drove in three runs, scored twice, and afterward said, “I just try to give it 100 percent every game.”
Which is interesting, because that’s also what people say right before they don’t explain anything.
😐 WASHINGTON’S NIGHT
Now Washington actually had 13 hits, which sounds impressive—until you realize they left 22 runners on base.
Twenty-two!
That’s not an offense.
That’s a support group.
B. Celauro, the designated hitter, went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts and seven left on base.
Which is tough.
Because your entire job is to hit the ball.
Meanwhile C. Hernandez went 0-for-5 and left six on.
At that point the bases were so crowded they should’ve charged rent.
🎯 PITCHING, SORT OF
Washington starter S. Jenkins gave up four home runs in less than three innings.
Four.
That’s not pitching—that’s community outreach.
Miami starter Daisuke Kawasaki wasn’t exactly dominant, but he survived six innings, which in the postseason is considered excellent character.
And J. Hodge closed it out for the save, which is nice, because if he didn’t… this recap would be much shorter.
🧠 NORM’S FINAL THOUGHT
So Miami takes Game 1, leads the series 1–0, and Washington is left wondering how you can hit 13 balls safely and still lose.
And the answer is simple:
You just… don’t hit them when it matters.
Which, in baseball—and in life—is usually the difference.
Good night, everybody. 😐⚾