Nationals Pound Marlins

     The Washington Nationals routed the Miami Marlins 18-1 at Nationals Park on Monday night. The Marlins have fallen in three straight games. It was the Marlins worst defeat since June 27, 2003 when they lost to the Boston Red Sox 25-8. 

     Washington(44-49) ripped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening frame. Alcides Escobar led off with a single and then scored on a triple by Trea Turner to deep left. Juan Soto followed with a two-run homer to left field on a 1-0 pitch for his 15th homer of the season. Josh Bell came up next and bashed a solo homer to left field on a 3-2 pitch for his 13th home run of the year. 

     The Nationals made it a ten-run cushion in the bottom of the second. Tres Barrera connected with the first pitch over the left-center field fence. It was his first home run in the majors. Three batters later, Turner lifted a three-run homer to left field on a 3-2 count. Jon Lester and Escobar scored in front of him on the play. 

     Josh Harrison later doubled into the left-field corner to score Juan Soto. Gerardo Parra knocked in Harrison with a base hit into center field. 

     In the fifth inning, the Nats added two more runs for a 12-0 lead. Lester lifted a two-run homer to center field on a 1-0 pitch with Parra aboard. 

     Miami(40-54) gave up six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Yadiel Hernandez drove in Parra on a single into center field. Jordy Mercer got a two-run single to left which brought in Barrera and Hernandez. Solo later blasted a three-run homer to left-center field on a 0-1 pitch for his second home run of the game and 16th of the campaign.

     The Marlins broke the shutout in the top of the eighth. Miguel Rojas cracked a solo home run to left field on a 3-1 count.