Unless you routinely watch the Marlins telecasts, you probably have no idea what the title of this blog means. Back in 2006 when the little-known second baseman was hitting over .300 and clubbing home runs, Rich and Tommy (the Marlins TV play-by-play and analyst duo) were trying to encourage fans to vote Uggla into the all-star game. So every time he hit a home run, they said "His name is...DAN UGGLA!" After that, it just kinda stuck as their routine call whenever Uggla jacked one over the fence. And last night his 2-run shot in the second inning was the 100th of his career; It came in his 502nd game, making him the fastest second baseman to hit 100 home runs in the history of Major League Baseball. Don't let that statement slip by you, folks. That is no small feat, there are over 100 years worth of second baseman on that list, and Uggla is at the top. (it really shocked me that Utley, who is a great hitter and plays in a great hitters ballpark, not a pitcher's one like Uggla does, wasn't second, Soriano, or third, Joe Gordon, on that list.)
Congratulations Mr. Uggla!
I'm sure that one stalker-ish woman I met in Citizens Bank Park 3 years ago is celebrating, along with all the other Marlins fans, but this woman was NUTS. I met her along the dugout while getting autographs before a Marlins-Phillies double-header, and she was holding a statue of an owl (but that wasn't as scary as her friend who was wearing a Reggie Abercrombie jersey...YIKES!). I asked her what the owl was for and she told me it's what 'Uggla' means in "whatever language she said" and she wanted to give Uggla the owl because she liked him so much. Apparently, she had tried to give it to him earlier in the year when they played in Baltimore also, but to no avail, so she followed the Fish to Philly. I never saw her again after batting practice was over, but it was one of the strangest encounters I have ever had in a baseball stadium. And that's a true story.
Anyway, back to last night's game. Sanchez was effective, but not efficient. He threw 40 pitches in a scoreless first inning, and allowed 1 run on 2 hits, with 3 K and 3 BB in three total innings. He was lifted after 71 pitches because the Marlins wanted to ease him back into the rotation, and Burke Badenhop dominated the game from there. The Hopper went 5 innings and yielded just 1 hit and 1 walk. Hayden Penn polished off the ninth, allowing his usual 2 runs and 3 hits, but with a 10-1 lead, the Marlins could afford to use him. I really don't know why he is still on the team, but that's another story.
Ross belted a grand slam as well, Brett Carroll got 2 hits(!), Hanley extended his 3-hit game streak to 3, all in all it was probably the best all-around game the Marlins have played all year. The Marlins are now 2-0 on the homestand and have won 4 of 6 overall. I would love for them to win the series against the Brewers, who are still in first place; The problem is this is a 4 game series, and if the Marlins lose tonight it becomes an oh-crap-we'd-better-win-this-game-or-else-we-split-after-looking-so-good-the-first-two-games finale. 4 game sets are tough to win, but if West can continue to pitch well (2.25 ERA in his first 2 starts) the Fish just may pull it off. He will be opposed by former Marlin Braden Looper, who the Marlins scored 5 runs off of in their first meeting.
And in case you forgot...his name is...DAN UGGLA!
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