Desmond, Escobar spark late rally, Nats beat Marlins 6-4

The error-prone Nationals made it four straight games without a miscue until the first inning tonight.

With one out and one on, Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton ripped a line drive right at left fielder Jayson Werth. Werth stepped up and crouched down, but the diving screamer caromed off his glove. The next batter, center fielder Marcell Ozuna, hit a soft flare up the middle to score third baseman Martin Prado.

The run was unearned for Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann. The Nationals are the worst in the majors with 25 errors in 27 games.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar and Werth helped the Nats answer with consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Bryce Harper followed with his major league-leading 25th walk to load the bases before a sacrifice fly from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to deep right plated Escobar to even the score.

For Harper, the walk extends his on-base streak to a career-high 20 games.

Update: The struggles continue for the Nats offense. Marlins starter David Phelps has held Washington scoreless since the first as the Nats have left six men on base and are just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Over the last four games, the Nats are a measly 4-for-30 with runners in scoring position and have left 32 on base.

Escobar has three of the Nats' six hits on the night. It's his second three-hit game this season.

Zimmermann gave up a leadoff homer to Marlins first baseman Justin Bour to break the tie in the seventh. Bour, hailing from Chantilly, Va., has hit both home runs of his career against the Nationals.

Nationals manager Matt Williams ended Zimmermann's night after the seventh at only 81 pitches. Zimmermann allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Update II: Werth delivered in the seventh with a clutch two-out single up the middle scoring pinch-runner Michael A. Taylor to tie the game.

Right-hander Blake Treinen will start the eighth.

Update III: After two straight impressive performances, the Nats bullpen faltered tonight. Before the game, Williams delivered this message on Marlins speedy second baseman Dee Gordon.

"It's important for us to keep him off the basepaths so we have to make quality pitches," Williams said. "The free pass is something that we don't want to allow him."

Treinen began the eighth by walking Gordon on five pitches and it proved costly. Treinen came back to strike out Prado before serving an intentional pass to Stanton. Ater Treinen whiffed Ozuna, Williams summoned lefty Matt Grace from the bullpen.

Marlins pinch-hitter Jeff Baker sliced a single to right field. Harper came up throwing as the lightning-quick Gordon rounded third. It was goinig to be close, but catcher Wilson Ramos couldn't secure the one-hop throw and Gordon slid in safely.

Two batters later, left fielder Ichiro Suzuki slapped one up the middle that second baseman Danny Espinosa couldn't control and Stanton scored for a 4-2 Marlins lead.

The Nats responded with a big rally in their half of the eighth. With Zimmerman on first, shortstop Ian Desmond belted a two-run homer to straightaway center field to tie the game.

The Nats weren't finished. Pinch-hitter Tyler Moore came through with a single and after center fielder Denard Span doubled, the Nats had runners at second and third with two outs.

Escobar then roped a line drive to right, his fifth hit of the night, scoring both runners to give the Nats a two-run lead off a four-run rally.

With closer Drew Storen taxed from pitching three of the last four days, Williams turned to right-hander Tanner Roark to finish the game.

Roark gave up a single to Gordon, which sent the intimidating Stanton to the plate as the tying run with two outs. Roark ran the count full and with Nats Park on its feet, he struck out Stanton to gain his first career save.

The Nats beat the Marlins 6-4 for their third straight win.