"Gaby Sanchez doesn't usually have to duck or get into a fetal position when he plays first base.

But that's exactly what Sanchez had to do Tuesday night to avoid crashing into a much larger object, teammate Josh Johnson, who ran over to cover first base and complete a double play in the fifth inning of the Marlins' 6-0 win over the Pirates at Sun Life Stadium.

Had Sanchez not hit the ground at the last moment, the Marlins ace might have been struck by Sanchez or the ball being thrown his way from shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Luckily, the near accident turned out to be just a laughing matter and the only real threat to derailing another terrific outing for Johnson, who gave up just two hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out nine as the Marlins (9-6) moved to within a half-game of the first-place Phillies in the National League East.

"It's all about making pitches,'' said Johnson, who is now 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four starts and hasn't given up an earned run since the Nationals' Jayson Werth hit a solo home run off him with one out in the fourth inning on April 7 — a span of 17 scoreless innings."