Marlins earn split with Nats
WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Jose Fernandez allowed just one run in seven innings and drove in two runs and batterymate J.T. Realmuto had three hits as the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 Sunday, garnering a split of the four-game series on a windy day with some shaky fielding.
In just his second start ever at Nationals Park, Fernandez (5-2) improved to 5-0 in his career against the Nationals as he gave up just four hits with 11 strikeouts on a season-high 117 pitches.
The right-hander, who fanned the side in the sixth and seventh, had a sacrifice bunt in the third that led to two runs and his two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded built the margin to 5-1 in the sixth. David Phelps pitched a scoreless eighth for the Marlins and closer A.J. Ramos came on the ninth to get the save after two runners were on base with no outs, as he got pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy for the final out.
The Marlins scored two unearned runs in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Washington second baseman Stephen Drew lost a popup in the sun for an error off the bat of Martin Prado to score Realmuto and Adeiny Hechavarria, who ended the day with two hits.
Washington's Ryan Zimmerman (two hits) was credited with an inside- the-park homer in the fourth to make it 2-1. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and center fielder Marcell Ozuna got their feet tangled on the warning track in right-center as Zimmerman circled the bases. The outfielders laid on the ground for a few moments but stayed in the game.
It was the third inside-the-park homer in Nationals Park history and fourth homer of the year for Zimmerman, who has 10 walk-off homers in his career but had never hit one inside the park.
Stanton hit 11th homer of the year in the sixth -- a solo shot over the fence in right off starter Joe Ross (3-3) to give the Marlins a lead of 3-1. Later in the inning Fernandez lined a single to center to drive in two runs to make it 5-1 and send Ross to the showers.
Fernandez was aided by a diving catch by left fielder Christian Yelich on a liner by Bryce Harper to end the fifth. Harper was 0-for-3 after sitting out the second game of a doubleheader Saturday following a one game suspension by MLB.
Ross yielded five runs (three earned) on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings before Oliver Perez took over in the sixth. Danny Espinosa had two hits for the Nationals.
The Marlins (20-17) are 12-7 on the road while Washington (23-15) has lost seven of its last 11 going into a series in New York on Monday against the Mets.
NOTES: Marlins CF Marcell Ozuna extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the sixth ... The game began with a 21 mile-per-hour breeze from the west, blowing towards right field.
... Both starting pitchers -- Washington RHP Joe Ross and Miami RHP Jose Fernandez -- were both first-round draft picks in 2011. ... The Nationals sent OF Matt den Dekker back to Triple-A Syracuse after he served as the 26th man for the Saturday doubleheader. ... The Marlins sent RHP Kendry Flores back to Triple-A New Orleans after he was the 26th man for the twinbill as the starter in Game 2 Saturday. Miami also called up LHP Jarlin Garcia from Double-A Jacksonville and sent RHP Nick Wittgren to Triple-A New Orleans. ... Washington 2B Daniel Murphy (.403) and Miami 3B Martin Prado (.381) entered Sunday as the top two hitters in the National League. Murphy was not in the starting lineup after he struggled in the field Saturday. Also out of the lineup for the Nationals was LF Jayson Werth, hitting .208 with 34 strikeouts in 120 at-bats. 1B-OF Clint Robinson made his first start of the year in left and INF Stephen Drew started at second.