The Washington Nationals win another game, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 1 – 0 victory. Nats starter Jason Marquis takes a no-hitter into the 6th, which is broken up by his opponent Michael Pineda’s first major league hit. The only run scores in the bottom of the 9th off Chris Ray, thanks to a single by Michael Morse, a bunt single by Danny Espinosa, followed by another bunt by Ivan Rodriguez which loads the bases as 1B Adam Kennedy unwisely attempts to cut down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at third base instead of settling for the sure out. Jerry Hairston then forces out Bixler at home on a hard-hit grounder to short, but Jayson Nix follows with a game-ending sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa. Following the game, in a stunning turn of events, Washington manager Jim Riggleman hands in his resignation. He justifies his decision by GM Mike Rizzo’s refusal to negotiate an extension of his contract for 2012. Bench coach John McLaren takes over as interim manager with the team one game above .500, its best record since 2005, the result of having won 11 of its last 12 games. Rizzo expresses his disappointment at the turn of events, stating: “I was always taught that one of the cardinal rules of baseball was that no individual can put his interests before those of the team.”
On June 23 2011 — The Washington Nationals win another game, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 1 – 0 victory. Nats starter Jason Marquis takes a no-hitter into the 6th, which is broken up by his opponent Michael Pineda’s first major league hit. The only run scores in the bottom of the 9th off Chris Ray, thanks to a single by Michael Morse, a bunt single by Danny Espinosa, followed by another bunt by Ivan Rodriguez which loads the bases as 1B Adam Kennedy unwisely attempts to cut down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at third base instead of settling for the sure out. Jerry Hairston then forces out Bixler at home on a hard-hit grounder to short, but Jayson Nix follows with a game-ending sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa. Following the game, in a stunning turn of events, Washington manager Jim Riggleman hands in his resignation. He justifies his decision by GM Mike Rizzo’s refusal to negotiate an extension of his contract for 2012. Bench coach John McLaren takes over as interim manager with the team one game above .500, its best record since 2005, the result of having won 11 of its last 12 games. Rizzo expresses his disappointment at the turn of events, stating: “I was always taught that one of the cardinal rules of baseball was that no individual can put his interests before those of the team.”
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