Stanton homer lifts Marlins over Nationals
MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez pitched eight scoreless innings, and Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run as the Miami Marlins defeated the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.
Washington (88-53), still comfortably ahead in the NL East, has lost four games in a row.
Miami (76-75), which has been projected to have less than a one percent chance to make the playoffs as an NL wild-card team, has won three games in a row.
The Marlins are 18-17 against teams -- like Washington -- that were in first place at the time they played. The Marlins are 17-20 against teams that were in last place when they played.
Fernandez (16-8) struck out 12 and allowed just three hits and no walks. It was his ninth double-figure strikeout game of the season, and he retired 21 consecutive batters before running into trouble in the eighth.
In the eighth, Washington's Wilson Ramos hit a soft one-out single to center, and he was replaced by pinch runner Michael Taylor. With Miami's Miguel Rojas holding Taylor on at first, Brian Goodwin hit a chopper for a single to right. Had Rojas been playing at normal depth, Miami might have turned a double play.
Instead, Fernandez faced his first real threat of the game -- runners on the corners with one out -- but he responded by striking out Danny Espinosa swinging and getting pinch hitter Daniel Murphy to bounce out to second.
Fernandez, who threw 111 pitches, has 182 1/3 innings this season. The Marlins had targeted him for 180 this year since it is his first full season after elbow surgery. That means it is possible this was Fernandez's final start of the season.
David Phelps pitched the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
Stanton hit his homer in the sixth inning. He swung at a 94-mph fastball by Tanner Roark (15-9) and hit it out to right field for his team-high 27th homer of the season.
That was all the cushion needed by Fernandez, who is an impressive 29-2 with a 1.49 career ERA at Marlins Park.
In 10 career starts against Washington, Fernandez is 7-0 with a 0.99 ERA.
Roark allowed just three hits and three walks in seven innings.
NOTES: With his home run, Giancarlo Stanton has 28 career homers against the Nationals. Among active players, only Ryan Howard (44) and Hanley Ramirez (31) have hit more home runs against Washington. ... Nationals 2B Daniel Murphy (sore left leg) sat out his third straight start, although he pinch hit on Monday. ... Washington RHP Joe Ross, who came off the disabled list and pitched on Sunday, will start on Saturday. ... Nationals backup C Jose Lobaton has a minor ankle injury. Washington has C Pedro Severino as a backup if needed. ... Marlins RHP Bryan Morris was designated for assignment. He had been on the 60-day disabled list due to a back injury. ... Miami RHP Tom Koehler (9-10) will start Wednesday with a chance to win at least 10 games for the third straight season. He is 30-35 during that span. Koehler's task on Wednesday will be difficult: Washington starts RHP Max Scherzer (17-7, 2.78 ERA). Scherzer entered Tuesday tied for first in the NL in wins and sixth in ERA. He leads the majors with 259 strikeouts.