Washington, DC – Jordan Zimmermann allowed just two hits en route to his second career shutout as the Washington Nationals blanked the Miami Marlins, 8-0, in the second of a four-game set.
Zimmermann (19-8) carried a no-hitter over 5 2/3 innings until serving up a base hit to Donovan Solano to left-center field. He walked one and struck out nine to notch his fourth complete game of the season.
Denard Span and Jayson Werth each drove in a pair of runs while Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos added one RBI apiece for the Nationals, who moved within 4 1/2 games of the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL Wild Card spot.
The Reds are currently in extra innings against the Pirates.
Jacob Turner (3-8) allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.
Washington exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning.
Back-to-back singles from Span and Ryan Zimmerman to open the inning set the table for Werth, who cleared the bases with a double to left. Harper followed with a double of his own to right to plate Werth.
After Desmond grounded out, Adam LaRoche worked a walk, spelling the end of Turner's night. Ramos greeted reliever Chris Hatcher with an RBI single to center and Anthony Rendon followed with a base hit to score LaRoche to make it a five-run game.
Span capped the inning two hitter later with a bases-clearing triple to right field.
Desmond's RBI double in the eighth accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
Zimmermann has won each of his last four starts ... Zimmermann hurled a one- hit shutout on April 26 ... Zimmermann leads the NL with 19 wins ... Washington has won 12 of its last 14 games ... Turner hasn't made it through six innings since Aug. 3 ... Turner hasn't won since July 10, and has dropped three straight starts ... Washington is 8-0 this season at home against the Marlins.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.