Marlins Swat Nats

    On Memorial Day, the Washington Nationals came into town and were defeated by the Miami Marlins 5-3 Monday afternoon at Marlins Park.  Miami is now 2 1/2 games behind the first place Nationals in the National League East division. The Marlins tied a franchise record with 19 wins in one month which they set in August 1997.
    The Nationals scored the first run of the game in a very unlikely way during the third inning. With one out, Washington starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann hit his first career home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch off Carlos Zambrano.
    The Marlins tied the game in the fourth inning. Logan Morrison smashed a lead-off solo home run down the right field line on a 2-2 pitch. It was his third homer of the season.
    In the fifth inning, Washington was able to retake the lead 3-1. Second generation player Steve Lombardozzi got a one-out single to center field. He advanced to second when Bryce Harper followed with a single to center. Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run double to left center to score Lombadozzi and Harper.
    Miami hit the ball hard off Zimmermann and were able to pull ahead of Washington in the sixth inning. Hanley Ramirez hit a single to left center to lead off the frame. Giancarlo Stanton then pounded a two-run homer to left-center field on a 3-1 pitch. Stanton notched his 12th home run this year. Logan Morrison place a double to right center. Bryan Petersen blooped a single to left field and Morrison advanced to third. After four consecutive hits by Miami, John Buck struck out swinging for the first out. Chris Coghlan picked up an RBI sacrifice fly to left field as Morrison scored for a 4-3 lead.
    Zambrano(3-3) lasted into the seventh inning in which he gave up three runs on seven hits while Zimmermann(3-5) also left the game after the Marlins got four runs and eight hits off him.
    Reyes led off the seventh inning with a double to center field off Henry Rodriguez. He advanced to third on a ground out by Omar Infante. Ramirez drove in Reyes on a sacrifice fly to center field.