Fernandez Remains Perfect In Miami, Marlins Top Nats 4-1
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Playing a home game for the first time in weeks, the struggling Miami Marlins gave their fans something to cheer about.
Jose Fernandez stayed unbeaten in his home career, Dee Gordon's standup triple led to him scoring the go-ahead run in his return to the lineup and the Marlins topped the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Martin Prado had three hits while Gordon and Christian Yelich had two each for Miami. Fernandez (4-0) allowed four hits and one run in six innings, improving his record at Marlins Park to 15-0.
Jordan Zimmermann (8-6) gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings. The Nationals lost for the first time in his last seven starts, and saw their lead in the NL East over the New York Mets trimmed to one game.
Bryce Harper reached base for the 24th straight game and 43rd straight on the road for the Nationals, who got Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup after long stints on the disabled list.
Washington also made news during the game, trading with Philadelphia for All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon.
A.J. Ramos loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, before getting Yunel Escobar to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play and wrap up his 17th save in 21 chances.
Tied 1-1 in the sixth, the Marlins took the lead with two runs off Zimmermann, who no-hit them on the final day of the 2014 regular season. Gordon — who had been out with a thumb injury — led off with his triple, scored easily on a single to left by Prado, who would later score on J.T. Realmuto's groundout.
Miami added an insurance run in the seventh, Yelich's second hit of the game scoring Cole Gillespie.
That was more than enough to ensure Fernandez stayed perfect at home. He got into some trouble in the second, facing second and third with no outs after issuing a leadoff walk to Harper and a double to Zimmerman. Wilson Ramos' sacrifice fly delivered Harper for a 1-0 Washington lead, but the Marlins would tie it in the fifth when Realmuto scored on Adeiny Hechavarria's fly ball to right.
The Marlins are 20-3 in the games Fernandez starts in Miami. His career ERA at Marlins Park rose to 1.19.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: Werth missed 61 games with a broken left wrist. Zimmerman missed 49 games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. To make room for their returns, the Nationals optioned outfielder Matt den Dekker and sent infielder Emmanuel Burriss outright to Triple-A Syracuse.
Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez had season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday. He finishes this season 0-4 with a 6.45 ERA, and hadn't pitched since May 22 after being shut down for a second time in 2015 with what was diagnosed as shoulder inflammation.
CENTURY MARK
Miami is 42-58 after 100 games, the fifth straight year that the Marlins have been below .500 at this point of a season. Only three Marlins teams (37-63 in 1998, 38-62 in 2013 and 39-61 in 1999) have been worse through 100 games. The team opened 42-58 in 1993, its inaugural season.
MUSIC WARS
The Nationals have developed a bit of a reputation for playing less-than-peppy tunes at their ballpark when visiting teams take batting practice this season, and the Marlins gave them a taste of their own medicine Tuesday. Among the songs that blared as Washington got loose: Shania Twain's "From This Moment On," Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" and Michael Bolton's "That's What Love Is All About."
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Doug Fister (3-6, 4.50) faces Miami on Wednesday. He's 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Marlins.
Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (8-6, 3.16) faces Washington on Wednesday. Koehler has a 2.31 ERA in his last 13 appearances, a 1.62 ERA in his last six.The families have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the private airplanes, boat fuel and any other sources used in the search. For those interested in donating, click here.
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