Nationals Avoid Sweep To Marlins

     The Washington Nationals got a 5-0 shutout victory over the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on Sunday. Miami(6-16) was held to just two hits in the game. The Marlins finished a stretch where they opened the 2019 season with 16 home contests in the first 22.
     In the fourth inning, Washington(10-10) made it 1-0. Ryan Zimmerman powered a solo home run to left field on a full count. The Nats got another run in the sixth inning when Howie Kendrick hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Adam Eaton crossed the plate.    
     The Nationals increased the lead to 3-0 during the top of the seventh. Brian Dozier knocked a homer over the left-field wall on a 1-1 count. Washington starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg left the contest after eight innings after he allowed only two hits and struck out 11 batters.
     The Nats extended it to a four-run margin in the top of the ninth. Zimmerman lifted his second home run of the game to left on a 2-2 pitch. Wilmer Difo later lined a single up the middle which scored Kurt Suzuki.
     The Marlins came close to breaking the shutout in the final inning. They compiled two walks and reached base on a fielding error by Kendrick to load the bases. Miguel Rojas flew out to Eaton on the right-field foul line to end the game.