Nationals 5, Marlins 1
WASHINGTON -- Jordan Zimmermann allowed one run in seven innings and his teammates clubbed three home runs, including back-to-back blasts in the sixth, as the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 5-1 on Saturday night.
First baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo homer in the second, left fielder Clint Robinson clubbed a two-run shot to the opposite field in the sixth and shortstop Ian Desmond followed with a long solo homer to center against starter Tom Koehler (8-13), who lost his seventh straight after giving up five runs in six innings.
Washington (65-63) moved 5 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Mets, who lost earlier in the day to the Boston Red Sox 3-1. The last time that the Nationals gained ground on the Mets was Aug. 19.
The Marlins (52-78) fell to 6-5 overall against Washington this year.
Marlins first baseman Justin Bour, a product of nearby George Mason University in Virginia, smashed a solo homer in the seventh to break up the shutout bid by Zimmermann (11-8). The Washington starter gave up seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk as he captured his third start in a row.
Desmond and third baseman Anthony Rendon had two hits for the Nationals. Desmond has hit 10 homers in his last 37 games.
Nationals reliever Matt Thornton pitched a scoreless eighth and closer Jonathan Papelbon got the last three outs in a non-save situation.
Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon and Koehler each had two hits. Koehler also gave up three homers in his May 6 start at Washington.
Zimmerman hit his 12th homer of the year to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second. It marked the sixth straight game that he had driven in a run.
The Marlins had a great chance to tie the score in the third, but Koehler, who singled with two outs and advanced to third on a double by Gordon, was thrown out at the plate on a pitch that got past Wilson Ramos.
The catcher retrieved the ball and threw to Zimmermann, who tagged out Koehler to end the inning with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki at the plate.
Miami then got singles from Suzuki and third baseman Martin Prado to start the fourth, but Zimmermann retired the next three batters to stymie the threat.
Koehler had lost his previous six starts and had not won since July 23 at San Diego.
Zimmermann, who threw a no-hitter against the Marlins at home on Sept. 28, was hit hard early but managed to get through five innings without allowing a run, though he yielded six hits -- including the one by Prado that glanced off Zimmermann's glove for an infield single in the fourth.
NOTES: Marlins LHP Brad Hand (4-3, 4.23 ERA) will face Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (8-6, 4.14) in the series finale Sunday. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper (.334) and Marlins INF Dee Gordon (.332) entered play Saturday as the two top hitters in the National League. Gordon led the league in batting average with two outs at .423. ... Washington entered Saturday with four straight losses in one-run games since July 31 and a record of 2-9 in its last 11 games decided by one or two runs. ... The Marlins had 22 road wins through Friday, tied with Philadelphia for the second-lowest amount in the majors. Only Atlanta (21) has less and all three teams are in the same division.