Washington 4 at Miami 1 - Recap

MIAMI -- Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Taylor homered and Tanner Roark pitched a strong game to lead the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Miami Marlins in a battle of NL East rivals on Friday night at Marlins Park.

It was Zimmerman's fifth homer of the season and the fourth for Taylor. Zimmerman has hit more homers against the Marlins -- 28 -- than he has against any other team in the majors.

Meanwhile, Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who has averaged 32 homers per season over the past five years, failed to break out of his prolonged slump. He went 0-for-4 with a groundout and three strikeouts. He struck out on a check swing, on a fastball and on a changeup.

That's significant because Stanton is now mired in a 4-for-45 slump and is hitting .214 for the season. In his past four games, he is 0-for-14 with 12 strikeouts.

Washington (26-16), which leads the division, won its third game in a row. Miami (21-20) has lost three games in a row.

Roark (3-3) earned the win, striking out seven and allowing six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. Friday was a breakthrough for Roark, who entered Friday with a 0-3 record and an 8.40 ERA this year against Miami.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.

Marlins starter Justin Nicolino (2-2) took the loss, allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings. His outing was doomed when he allowed all four runs in the second inning as a result five hard-hit balls pulled to left field.

Zimmerman got Washington going with his homer to lead off the second inning, slugging an 88-mph fastball. Consecutive doubles by Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

With two outs, Taylor hit a 78-mph curve ball for a two-run homer to give Washington a 4-0 lead. Jayson Werth nearly made it 5-0, but his long blast to left went foul.

Miami cut its deficit to 4-1 when Marcell Ozuna pulled a solo homer to left in the fourth. It was his eighth homer of the season.

NOTES: Marlins LHP Jarlin Garcia was optioned to Double-A Jacksonville. Miami reinstated RHP Edwin Jackson (strained triceps) from the disabled list. Jackson, a reliever, had been out since April 18. Garcia, who was called up Sunday, didn't make an appearance and has yet to make his major-league debut. His departure leaves Miami without a lefty in the bullpen, although LHP Mike Dunn (strained forearm) could return in about 10 days. ... Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, the NL's reigning Player of the Week, will start Saturday against Washington. He had two 11-strikeout games last week, including one against Washington. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-0) entered Friday tied with Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (7-0) for most wins in the NL. ... Nationals 2B Daniel Murphy (.397) entered Friday leading the NL in batting average. Marlins 3B Martin Prado (.371) was third.