Bryce Harper's three-homer day lifts Nats to 7-5 win in series finale

The Marlins opened the second inning with four straight hits against Nationals starter Max Scherzer, leading to a couple of quick runs.

Nats first baseman Ryan Zimmerman helped prevent further damage when he charged in to field a bunt from Marlins starter Tom Koehler. Zimmerman then wheeled to make a perfect throw to shortstop Ian Desmond to start a huge double play.

Right fielder Bryce Harper answered with a leadoff homer in the second. Harper deposited Koehler's 1-0 offering over over the left field wall for his sixth home run of the season.

Update: Back-to-back doubles from Denard Span and Ian Desmond set the stage for a big third inning for the Nats. Third baseman Yunel Escobar delivered a sacrifice fly to deep left-center to plate Span and even the game.

And then Harper struck again. This time it was a no-doubter to the stands in deep right field. The two-run shot gives Harper the sixth multi-homer game of his career.

Update II: Koehler has seen enough of Harper today. In the fifth inning, the 22-year-old launched his third homer of the game way beyond the right field fence and into the second deck of Nats Park. The solo blast is Harper's eighth of the season and marks the first time in his career that he's hit three home runs in a game.

He becomes the fourth Nationals player to accomplish the feat along with Adam Dunn, Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Zimmerman.

Meanwhile, Scherzer calmed down after the second, turning in five straight scoreless innings.

Through seven innings, Scherzer has allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

Update III: Three straight one-out singles in the seventh from Span, Desmond and Escobar led to a fifth run for the Nats.

After Span scored, the crowd remained cheering as Harper stepped in the box for his fourth at-bat. This one would stay in the yard, but the groundout to Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon was good enough for Harper's fifth RBI.

Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to stick with Scherzer in the eighth despite the dangerous top of the Marlins lineup due up.

Gordon and Martin Prado promptly singled bringing Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton to the plate. Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty made a trip to the mound to discuss Scherzer's approach as the right-hander stood at 105 pitches thrown.

An epic battle ensued. The count ran full and then Stanton unleashed a massive three-run homer to deep left to bring the Marlins within two.

Stanton's blast ended Scherzer's afternoon. He allowed five runs on 10 hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. It is the seventh time in Scherzer's career he has struck out 10 or more batters and walked none.

Update IV: Closer Drew Storen made it interesting in the ninth after allowing the first two batters to reach. But Storen battled back to retire the next three in order for his eighth save of the year.

The Nats win 7-5.