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The Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins have both engaged in a continuous trade-off of wins against each other this year. Both teams are 6-6 against each other, as the battle on NL East foes couldn’t have been closer to start the year. Today, Washington created some separation between the two teams.
Washington got started in the first inning, when Bryce Harper hit a fly ball, and despite Marcell Ozuna catching it in shallow center, it was enough for speedy Ben Revere to make it home. The Nationals had the early 1-0 lead. No runs were scored in the second, but the Nationals began to create some separation in the top of the third inning.
Daniel Murphy continued his torrid start to the season, when he hit an infield single, which again scored Revere. A few batters later, Anthony Rendon doubled to left, which scored Murphy. Once the inning was over, Washington held a 3-0 lead.
After no scoring for two more innings, Washington pretty much put the game away in the top of the sixth. Danny Espinosa singled to center, which scored Rendon. Then, Revere singled to right, which scored Wilson Ramos and Espinosa. The Marlins got a runner in scoring position, when Ozuna hit a single down the third base line that Rendon couldn’t handle.
Ozuna would end up getting to second. On the next at-bat, Justin Bour finally got the Marlins on the board. Bour smashed a home run to right field, which cut the deficit to 6-2. Washington ended all hopes of a comeback in the top of the ninth, when Rendon tripled to right, scoring Harper and Ryan Zimmerman.
Miami would end up losing to Washington, 8-2. Max Scherzer got the start for the Nationals, and he mowed down the Marlins all game. He fanned eight, and he only allowed two runs. Revere had a big day at the plate, he went 3-5 with two RBIS and two stolen bases. Adam Conley got the start and he struggled.
He went 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, and he walked seven batters. Giancarlo Stanton went 1-4 today, as he currently is in a 5-52 hitting slump. Washington outhit the Marlins, 10-6. Washington won the weekend series, taking two out of three games from Miami. The Marlins will look to bounce back on Monday, when they take on the in-state rival Tampa Bay Rays.
Source: FanGraphs
Hero of the Game: Max Scherzer (0.27)
Goat of the Game: Adam Conley (-0.23)
Play of the Game: Anthony Rendon doubles to left, Daniel Murphy scores (0.94)