MLB Scores: Miami Marlins 4, Washington Nationals 2

Source: FanGraphs

Attendance: 35,101
Hero of the Game: Giancarlo Stanton (0.161 WPA)
Goat of the Game: Jeff Mathis (-0.077 WPA)
Play of the Game: Ryan Zimmerman homered in the sixth inning. Denard Span scored. (-0.196 WPA)

The Miami Marlins won today's first game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on the back of, surprisingly enough, power hitting.

The Fish got quickly, as Christian Yelich doubled down the right field line in the first inning with two away and Giancarlo Stanton followed it up by taking an outside changeup from Dan Haren deep to right field. Stanton's opposite field shot was his 24th home run of the season, and he continues to heat up in the final weeks of this year. Not to be outdone, however, Yelich got in on the act as well. In the third inning, he took another changeup from Haren out to left field for his fourth home run of the year. The Fish suddenly were up 3-0.

Tom Koehler, however, was unable to keep the lead that large. He struggled through most of the start and got away with the help of the team's defense. The Marlins pulled off three double plays during the game in support of Koehler and the pitching staff. Koehler himself allowed just three hits and walked one, but did not strike out a batter. Furthermore, one of those hits was a homer by Ryan Zimmerman, a two-run shot that pulled the Nats within one in the sixth inning.

But the bullpen held up overall. The three innings thrown by Chad Qualls, Mike Dunn, and closer Steve Cishek yielded three strikeouts, no walks, and just one hit. After the rough sixth inning by Koehler, the team shut the door on the Nationals and Cishek picked up his 32nd save of the season.

The Marlins will go for the series split tonight with Brian Flynn starting versus Stephen Strasburg.