Uh, pitching mound that-a-way, Zim. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Marlins 9, Nationals 6: Giving up 11 hits to the opposition’s first five hitters in the lineup is a sure way to get yourself in some serious trouble; such was the case for Garrett Mock and the Nationals last night at Nationals Park. The Nats couldn’t hang with the Marlins’ hot bats last night and dropped their seventh straight game. Washington’s unbelievably ugly alternate “American” uniforms did little to distract Florida hitters, and Mock (3-7) struggled through three innings, allowing six runs. The home team certainly wasn’t out of the game, though, as they scored five runs themselves in the first three frames — Josh Willingham hammered his 22nd home run of the season and Ryan Zimmerman and Alberto Gonzalez had triples. But long reliever Saul Rivera couldn’t stop the bleeding, and allowed three more runs in the next couple of innings. Perhaps the Nats could have got back into it with some clutch hitting — culprit number one: catcher Josh Bard, who left 10 men on base — but five Florida relievers kept the bats quiet.

Sky 92, Mystics 86: One night after seemingly firming up a playoff spot, the Mystics fell back below .500 with a loss in Chicago against the Sky. It’s rare to see a WNBA have an away game the evening after a home game, but so the schedule dictated — perhaps the Mystics, who are playing without star Alana Beard, felt some fatigue. The team committed 15 turnovers and only had four fast break points, sure signs of tired legs. A little diversity probably would have helped too: two Washington starters, Matee Ajavon and Crystal Langhorne, scored 55 of the teams 86 points; on the other end, Chicago had three bench players score in double figures.