This entry was written by DCist contributor Benjamin Kabak.

With Ryan Church providing some much-needed ninth-inning heroics during the Nats’ Easter Sunday win over the Marlins, the headlines nearly write themselves.

Church, who struggled during Spring Training and hit even worse during his first week playing at AAA New Orleans, came up big with a two-run home run in the top of the 9th as the Nats overcame a 5-4 deficit to top the Florida Marlins 7-5. It was Church’s second two-run home run of the game, the first coming in the 6th inning. But as Harper Gordek, at the popular Nats blog Oleanders and Morning Glories, pointed out, just as important for the Nats’ victory was Church’s working the count for a lead-off walk in the top of the 8th. The Nats showed they could manufacture a run as Church scored after a single and a stolen base.

Church’s home run capped a weekend of mixed results for the Nationals. Playing baseball’s whipping boys, the Florida Marlins’ collection of low-priced rookies, the Nats lost the game – and another starting pitcher – on Friday night. Dontrelle Willis, one of two legitimate stars for the Marlins, overcame a two-run first by the Nats as the Marlins took advantage of Ryan Drese’s lack of control to eke out a 5-3 victory. The Nats left thirteen runs on base, and an 0-for-5 effort by Church proved costly.

In addition to losing the game, the Nats lost starting pitcher Drese to a sore elbow. Some rumblings suggest that Drese may be heading back to the operating table.