Early Fish miscues stake Nats to lead (Nationals win 8-3)

MIAMI - The Nationals manufactured a run and benefitted from sloppy Marlins defense to take an early lead.

Facing right-hander Tom Koehler in the third, Danny Espinosa led off with a walk. He moved to second on a 3-4 sacrifice bunt by Max Scherzer.

Koehler then tried to pick off Espinosa at second base but the throw was off target and rolled to center field. Espinosa went to third. Christian Yelich mishandled the ball in center field, allowing Espinosa to keep going and score. The Nationals lead the Marlins 1-0. Errors were charged to Koehler and Yelich on the play.

After three innings, Scherzer has struck out five and has allowed only one hit, a single to Martin Prado in the first frame.

Update: A loud out for Ryan Zimmerman in the second to center field that almost left the park turned to be prelude for his next chance. With two men on in the fourth, Zimmerman's line drive crushed a Koehler offering over the left field wall and suddenly the Nationals opened up a 4-0 lead. It was his 15th homer of the season and he now has 45 RBIs.

Update II: The Marlins third error in the game helped the Nationals score again in the fifth. Following a Scherzer single (!) off of reliever Dustin McGowan, Trea Turner reached first on an Adeiny Hechavarria throwing error. Jayson Werth then brought Scherzer home with a hard hit single to left field. The Nationals lead 5-0.

Koehler lasted four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Update III: Turner slammed a solo homer with one out in the seventh, his 12th homer of the season. Christian Yelich smacked a solo shot, his 20th, in the bottom of the inning. Tthe Nationals lead the Marlins 6-1.

Then, Marcell Ozuna walked. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich blasted a two-run shot to right field and the Nationals lead was trimmed to 6-3.

Scherzer finished 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He tossed 104 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Update IV: The Nationals added an RBI double by Wilson Ramos and a sacrifice fly by Espinosa in the eighth to make it 8-3.

Update V: Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth. He struck out Yelich. Ozuna grounded out to second. Justin Bour struck out to end the game.

The Nationals end their four-game skid with a convincing 8-3 win over the Marlins to salvage the third game of the three-game set. Scherzer is now 18-7.

The Nationals have a day off Thursday and are at Pittsburgh starting Friday night. Their season series with the Marlins is now even at 8-8. They face off next weekend in D.C.