Bullpen struggles continue as Nats lose third straight

MIAMI - The Nationals manufactured a run to get on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning. Shortstop Ian Desmond smacked a double to lead off the inning and left fielder Jayson Werth immediately advanced him to third on a fly ball to right. Desmond trotted home easily when right fielder Bryce Harper sent a rocket to center that Marcell Ozuna was able to run down.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman then doubled on a blistering liner to left-center as the Nats began measuring Marlins starter Mat Latos the second time through the order.

Desmond's double extended his current hitting streak to 10 games.

Nats' starter Jordan Zimmermann has a nasty slider working tonight. The Marlins have managed just two hits off Zimmermann through four innings, and the right-hander has three strikeouts.

Update: The Marlins were dialed in against Zimmermann to start the fifth. Ozuna and catcher J.T Realmuto crushed consecutive fly balls deep to center field to start the inning that Denard Span was somehow able to track down in cavernous Marlins Park.

Desmond nearly got Zimmermann out of the inning with a spectaular diving stop on a slapper by left fielder Ichiro Suzuki, but the speedy veteran beat the throw to first and the two-out rally was on. Two more singles from shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and Latos brought Ichiro in to tie the game. And a fourth straight single from second baseman Dee Gordon plated Hechavarria to give the Marlins the lead.

The Nats responded in the sixth behind Span, who drew a leadoff walk from Latos and then picked the perfect time for his first stolen base of the season. That set the table for Harper's single to right, scoring Span as he raced around from second.

Fair to say the 31-year-old Span, after his two offseason surgeries, is feeling healthy, considering what he displayed in the fifth and sixth.

Update II: With two on and two out in the seventh, Nationals manager Matt Williams opted to end Zimmermann's night and send outfielder Reed Johnson in to pinch hit. Johnson bounced out to third to end the inning.

Zimmermann was much sharper tonight than his previous two outings. He really only ran into trouble in the fifth when he gave up the Marlins two runs. He allowed six hits and had four strikeouts while only throwing 79 pitches.

Right-hander Tanner Roark pitched a perfect seventh in his first back-to-back appearances of the season out of the bullpen.

Update III: Hechavarria banged a double off Roark to start the eighth. After getting Donovan Solano to pop up a bunt, Roark was done as Williams opted for left-hander Matt Grace to face the lefty Gordon. Gordon managed an infield single that moved Hechavarria to third. Right-hander Aaron Barrett was summoned from the bullpen and promptly gave up a single to third baseman Martin Prado that scored Hechavarria for the game-winning run.

The Marlins beat the Nationals 3-2. The Nats fall to 7-10 after losing three straight.