Nationals Down Marlins

    The Miami Marlins lost for the seventh time in eight games as they fell to the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Wednesday night at Nationals Park. The Marlins clinched a losing record with their 82nd loss in the 2013 campaign and are now 20-43 on the road.
    Washington(67-65) was able to get the early lead against Henderson Alvarez during the second inning. Ian Desmond started with an infield single to second then Adam LaRoche and Wilson Ramos struck out. Steve Lombardozzi doubled into deep left field which scored Desmond. A rain delay was called once that play had ended. Alvarez and Washington starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg were removed from the contest by their clubs when the game resumed.
    The Nats put up another run off Ryan Webb in the third inning. Ryan Zimmerman reached base with one out on an infield base hit and then scored on a Bryce Harper double into left-center field.
    Jeff Mathis lifted a lead-off home run to left field against Craig Stammen in the fifth inning to narrow the gap for Miami(49-82) to 2-1. It was his fourth homer of the season.
    The Fish took their only lead of the game with two runs during the top of the sixth. Giancarlo Stanton began with a solo home run to center field on a 3-2 pitch thrown by Ryan Mattheus for his 17th round-tripper this year. Later in the frame, Mathis knocked in Donovan Solano with a one-out single to shallow left field.
    Jayson Werth evened the game at 3-3 for the Nationals in the bottom of the sixth on his 20th homer of the season with none out as he hit a 0-1 pitch to center field against Arquimendes Caminero.
    The winning run was scored by Washington during the seventh inning as Mike Dunn gave up a two-out single to left field by Desmond as Denard Span crossed the plate.