Marlins strike first against Zimmermann (Werth slam lifts Nats to 10-7 win)

The Marlins were quick out of the gates against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. The first three batters reached base. Christian Yelich led off the game with a single and stole second base. After a Derek Dietrich walk, Giancarlo Stanton connected on an RBI single and the Marlins led 1-0. Garrett Jones' sacrifice fly brought Dietrich home and extended the Marlins' lead to 2-0.

Left-hander Brad Hand is starting for the Marlins, which is why Nationals manager Matt Williams said he put slugger Bryce Harper in the seventh spot of the order.

The first inning took 30 minutes to complete and the Marlins lead 2-0.

Update: Miami erupted for three more runs in the second, chasing Zimmermann, highlighted by a two-run shot from Dietrich, his first home run of the season. Dietrich's hit was first ruled a triple and then overturned by the umpires on video replay.

The Marlins pounded out five hits in the inning and extended their advantage to 5-0. Zimmermann, who was replaced by Craig Stammen, had a final line of 1 and 2/3 innings, seven hits, five runs, all earned, two walks and one strikeout. He tossed 57 pitches and 34 for strikes. Marlins led 5-0 going to the bottom of the second.

Update II: With two men on and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Bryce Harper battled Hand to 10 pitches and a 3-2 count before launching a towering home run just inside the right field foul pole. The hit was ruled fair by first base umpire D.J. Reyburn. Upon video review, the play stood. It was Harper's first home run of the season, and the Marlins' lead was trimmed to 5-3.

Hand was lifted after Harper's home run, finishing 3 and 1/3 innings, scattering four hits, three runs, all earned, two walks and four strikeouts.

Update III: The Nationals trimmed the deficit to one run in the fifth. With one out, Rendon slapped a triple to right field that Giancarlo Stanton had difficulty gathering. Jayson Werth then brought him home with a groundout to third and Marlins led 5-4.

Then in the sixth, Zimmerman hit a double to right. Stanton again had trouble grabbing the baseball, allowing Zimmerman to go to third. Stanton was charged with an error. Desmond's dribbler towards third base turned into a run-scoring single when he was called safe at first. Zimmerman came home on the play, tying the game 5-5.

Harper singled to get Desmond to third. Jose Lobaton's spinning pop up was dropped by Marlins reliever Kevin Slowey, allowing Desmond to score the go-ahead run, and the Nationals led for the first time in the game, 6-5, after six innings.

Then in the top of seventh, the Marlins got a leadoff home run by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the game was even again 6-6.

Update IV: After the Marlins went ahead 7-6 in the top of eighth on a RBI double by Garrett Jones, the Nationals took control with a mammoth grand slam to left center field by Jayson Werth. Werth's first home run of the season scored Nate McLouth, Denard Span and Rendon in front of him, and completed an impressive comeback for the Nats. Trailing 5-0 in the fourth, they outscored the Marlins 10-2 the final five innings.

Tyler Clippard got the win despite giving up the go-ahead run, Rafael Soriano notched his second save.

The Marlins have lost 11 of their last 12 games at Nationals Park. Just an amazing comeback win for the Nationals and exemplifies the confidence this team had starting this season.