Miami, FL – Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer and had four RBI as the Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins, 10-3, in a National League East matchup on Monday.
Tyler Moore drove in three runs, while Ian Desmond went 4-for-5 and scored twice for the Nationals, who saw starter Jordan Zimmermann (3-0) pitch a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk.
"We gained some early runs and it's a lot easier to pitch when you got runs early in the game," said Zimmermann. "And I was just pounding it, pounding the strike zone with the fastball."
Juan Pierre, Chris Coghlan and Rob Brantly drove in a run apiece for the Marlins, who were without slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the fourth straight game. Starter Wade LeBlanc (0-3) lasted just 3 2/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on nine hits and two walks.
"It looked like to me he just missed up in the zone early in the game," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "Against an offense and a team like this, you got to keep the ball down and you got to move and change speeds and tonight just wasn't his night."
Zimmerman scored early in the first for the Nationals. After singles by Span and Werth, Harper then drew a walk. Zimmerman singled to center, plating Span and Werth. However, Harper was thrown out at third. Desmond then knocked a double to bring Zimmerman to third and Moore singled, scoring both runners to clear the bases and make it 4-0.
In the third, Desmond hit his second double. Moore doubled as well to bring Desmond home. Steve Lombardozzi was the next to bat and he also doubled, scoring Moore which made it 6-0.
Werth singled in the fourth, setting up Zimmerman's two-run shot two batters later, and the Nationals led 8-0.
Span had a two-RBI single in the fifth. After singles by Lombardozzi and Kurt Suzuki, Zimmermann laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, setting it up for Span.
Miami finally got on the board in the sixth. Donovan Solano was hit by a pitch with one out. Pitcher John Maine bunted to bring Solano to second. Pierre than doubled, scoring Solano. Coghlan followed with a single and brought Pierre home.
The Marlins' final score was in the seventh. After a leadoff double by Greg Dobbs and a single by Justin Ruggiano, Brantly singled to right, scoring Dobbs.
Zimmermann forced three straight ground outs in the ninth to end the game.
Game Notes
Washington was 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... Lombardozzi recorded six putouts ... Suzuki went 2-for-3 with a walk and raised his batting average to .368 this season ... Desmond has six doubles this season ... The Nationals were 3-6 at Marlins Park last season, their worst road record against any division opponent.
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