After 6 innings on Sunday, all looked well for the Florida Marlins. They were leading the Colorado Rockies 2-0 and Scott Olsen was dealing. Olsen went 6 innings with 0 ER, 2BB, and 6Ks. All looked to be in place for the Marlins to win and keep the pressure on Philadelphia. Then in the bottom of the 6th, with the bases full of Marlins, Olsen was due up to bat. As usually happens in these situations in the NL, the pitcher was lifted and Luis Gonzalez was came in for Olsen. Gonzalez struck out, the Marlins didn’t cash in, and the tide turned.

The Rockies proceeded to beat up the Marlins bullpen and instead of Florida taking 3 of 4, Colorado left Miami with a split of the 4 game series. To be fair to the bullpen, the Marlins bats didn’t exactly help them out late in the game. Aside from the missed opportunity with the bases loaded in the 6th, the Marlins were able to load the bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, trailing 3-2. A well placed single would do the job of tying and probably even winning the game. Instead, Rockies closer Brian Fuentes retired Josh Willingham and Jorge Cantu to end the threat and the game.

Generally a split of a 4 game series wouldn’t be devastating as a sweep of a 4 game series is very hard, and 3 of 4 would have been nice. But in this case the Marlins blew a bigger opportunity than winning 3 of 4 from the Rockies. The New York Mets had already lost, so the Marlins had a chance to get a 1 1/2 game buffer between themselves and the 3rd place Mets, and also a chance to stay within 1 1/2 games of the 1st place Philadelphia Phillies who won their game later in the evening. Instead the Marlins remain precariously 1/2 game ahead of the Mets, and Philadelphia is now comfortably in 1st with a 2 1/2 game lead. This week’s games will be a tremendous indicator of the Marlins post season chances.