MLB Scores: Miami Marlins 4, Washington Nationals 6

After a back and forth affair in the late innings (sound familiar?), the Nationals scored four runs in the eighth to top the Marlins 6-4.

The two teams wasted no time getting the scoring going early, the Marlins run coming off of a Marcell Ozuna single that plated Martin Prado, the Nationals immediately following with a Ryan Zimmerman sac fly that scored Yunel Escobar. 1-1 after one.

Both starting pitchers settled down afterward. Jordan Zimmermann ended up going seven innings but not before giving up a Justin Bour solo shot in the seventh that gave the Marlins a 2-1 lead. David Phelps had a very Phelpsian outing, going six and 1/3 inning giving up two runs, walking three and striking out four. The second Nationals run came courtesy a Jayson Werth single off of Sam Dyson, scoring Michael Taylor. Phelps was charged with the run as he had walked Clint Robinson (who was then replaced by Taylor on the basepaths). 2-2 tie through seven.

In the eighth the Marlins scored two off of Nationals relievers. Dee Gordon walked and stole second, setting up the Jeff Baker single that plated him (after Baker had pinch-hit for Bour). Later in the inning with the bases juiced, Ichiro hit a tapper up the middle that Danny Espinosa could not field cleanly, resulting in Giancarlo Stanton scoring from third. 4-2 Marlins at that point.

The pen, however, could not hold on. Bryan Morris walked Zimmerman to start the bottom of the eighth and after getting Wilson Ramos to pop out, left a hanging slider over the middle of the plate which Ian Desmond pummeled for a two run blast, leading to a short-lived tie again at four apiece. Morris then got Espinosa to strike out but couldn't seal the deal, allowing a Tyler Moore single, a Denard Span double and a Yunel Escobar single in succession that brought in the former two runners and gave the Nationals a 6-4 lead for good.

Tanner Roark allowed a Dee Gordon single in the ninth but otherwise shut down the Marlins last attempt to give the Nats the win. The Marlins will look to get back on the winning track tomorrow in game two of the three game set.

Source: FanGraphs

Attendance: 24.731

Hero of the Game: Yunel Escobar (+.503)

Goat of the Game: Bryan Morris (-.795)

Play of the Game: Ian Desmond two run homerun (+.403)