Redding continues fade

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By Ben Goessling

Tim Redding's peculiar 2008 season ended Wednesday night at the confluence of a late-season drop and a yearlong slide against the Florida Marlins that washed out his chance to finish a major league season with a winning record for the first time.

It also drowned out whatever remnants there were of the 30-year-old's beginning, when the accolades flowed in and he gave his team a chance to win in every start.

A season that began with so much promise for Redding still ends with him as the Nationals' leader in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins. But the way he finished belied everything about how he started.

Redding lost for the eighth time in 11 second-half decisions Wednesday night, turning in his shortest outing of the year in a 9-4 loss to the visiting Marlins. The loss gave him a 10-11 record and increased his ERA, which stood at 3.16 in early May, to 4.95 to finish the year.

"No excuses," Redding said. "I just didn't do my job to the best of my ability like I did the first 15, 16, 17 starts."

One pitch in and it was clear Redding hadn't emerged from the malaise Florida put him in all season. He pumped a fastball over the plate in an ideal spot for Hanley Ramirez, who launched it into the center-field seats.

The rest of the first inning played out like a microcosm of Redding's entire year against Florida: He gave up a single to Cameron Maybin, then drilled Jorge Cantu in the back with a pitch. After home plate umpire Kevin Causey warned both benches, Redding composed himself and got Josh Willingham to ground into a double play.

But then he shot a low pitch through Wil Nieves' legs, and Maybin trotted home from third.

The inning ended with the Marlins ahead 2-0. There was more trouble on the way.

Redding gave up a pair of doubles to Ramirez and Jorge Cantu, following those with walks to Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla. Then Jeremy Hermida hit a single past second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, Gaby Sanchez smacked a double to left and Redding's season concluded 2 2/3 innings into his final start.