Marlins 2, Nationals 1
MIAMI -- Right fielder Bryce Harper struck out swinging three times and stranded four runners as his Washington Nationals, fading fast in the NL East race, lost to the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Friday night at Marlins Park.
The Marlins (60-81) scored the winning run in the seventh inning. Catcher J.T. Realmuto led off by pulling a double to left off of reliever Casey Janssen (1-5). He reached third on a sacrifice by right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who popped up the bunt. Janssen fielded the bunt, but his throw to third was late.
Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas followed with the game-winning sacrifice fly. Harper made a sliding catch in shallow right, but by the time he got up, it was too late to get Realmuto.
Washington (71-69), trailing the New York Mets in the division, lost its fourth straight game.
Harper, one of the leading candidates for the NL Most Valuable Player award, drew a walk in the first inning. But then he struck out on a 94-mph fastball by starter Jarred Cosart in the third. Cosart got him again in the fifth, stranding two runners when he tied up Harper on an 81-mph breaking pitch.
In the seventh, with runners again on first and second, Harper struck out on reliever Mike Dunn's 95-mph fastball. Dunn got the win (2-5).
Neither starting pitcher got a decision. Cosart, in his second start since coming off the disabled list due to an inner-ear disorder, came out after five scoreless innings.
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who is from Miami Dade County (Hialeah High), allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Miami opened the scoring in the fourth. Third baseman Martin Prado drew a one-out walk, raced to third on a single by first baseman Justin Bour and scored when center fielder Marcell Ozuna beat out what was nearly an inning-ending double-play grounder.
Washington tied the score 1-1 in the sixth by scoring an unearned run. Third baseman Yunel Escobar led off with a single, advanced to second on a fielding error by Bour and ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Wilson Ramos.
After Miami took the lead in the seventh, Brian Ellington pitched a scoreless eighth, and A.J. Ramos did the same in the ninth to earn his 26th save of the season.
NOTES: Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman (right oblique) hasn't played since Monday and still can't swing a bat. ... Nationals 1B Clint Robinson's wife is having a baby, and he's with her in Arkansas. His status for this weekend is uncertain. ... Tyler Moore, Washington's third-string first baseman, got the start. ... Nationals INF Danny Espinosa, who bruised his right hand on Wednesday, is day to day. ... Nationals RHP Tanner Roark will start Saturday against Miami RHP Jose Fernandez, who is 15-0 with a 1.14 ERA in his career at Marlins Park. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton, out since June 26 (fractured left wrist), has increased the intensity of batting practice, hoping to make a return before the season expires. ... Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria, who has missed seven straight starts (hamstring), will try to run full speed in a day or two and hopes to play within a week.