Martinez on Harper, Madson, Difo and more (Nats win 5-2)

MIAMI - Nationals manager Davey Martinez provided more insight on Bryce Harper's struggles at the plate in this series as the team prepares for the Sunday finale. The slugger has had six strikeouts in the last two games. He has reached base on two hits and a walk since Friday.

Harper is hitting .203 in his last 15 games and .200 in his last 30 contests. He has 18 strikeouts in his last 15 games.

"He hit some balls hard," Martinez said. "Yesterday, obviously, he's fouling more pitches off than normal. Usually, if he gets two swings per at-bat, he'll put one on play. Yesterday he was just fouling balls off. In this league, when you're hitting with two strikes, league average is really low. You just got to go up there and get your pitch and try not to miss it."

Martinez was happy to see Daniel Murphy and Brian Goodwin each play seven innings and register four at-bats with Double-A Harrisburg yesterday.

"They did well," Martinez said. "Apparently, Murphy went first to third and did really well. Hopefully, I'm going to get some good video of it, but they said he did really well, both of them did. It's good to see, they're getting close."

Martinez said the fact that Murphy was running without any hesitation was the biggest takeaway that got his attention from the rehab game Saturday.

"Yeah, more than hitting, for me," Martinez said. "He's going to hit. It's more the running portion of it and him having to confidence to go first to third is pretty good. It's a good indication.

"(Murphy) played four or five innings in extended spring, so like I said, that's a great indication that he's feeling good and we just got to keep progressing."

Martinez gave some insight on the schedule for Murphy and Goodwin this week.

"Just continue to keep playing," Martinez said. "Maybe play back-to-back days, get them up to nine innings a couple of times and then we'll see where we go from there.

"Hopefully, they keep progressing and have no setbacks."

Reliever Matt Grace is expected to join Harrisburg today. The club has a noon game Monday against Altoona. Grace is expected to pitch in that game.

Right-hander Ryan Madson continues rehab from a pectoral strain that has had him on the shelf since May 17. He hasn't pitched in a game since May 13. Martinez had a positive update on the reliever and his plan for return.

"He's doing good. He says he feels really good," Martinez said. "We're going to sit back probably tomorrow and map out what we're going to do with him going forward.

"Maybe rehab. For a guy like him, he might not need rehab, maybe just a couple bullpens and we'll see where we are at."

Martinez placed Wilmer Difo in the No. 7 hole for today's series finale. Difo has batted ninth in the first two games of the series. But starter Stephen Strasburg is hitting just .095 (2-for-21) so far in 2018. Difo hit a dramatic home run to tie the game Saturday and was animated with his home run gesture and smiles as he rounded the bases.

"(Michael A.) Taylor is swinging the bat well. Just getting Difo behind Taylor. I didn't want to hit him ninth today," Martinez said. "I wanted Stras to hit ninth. Difo is Difo (laughs). Like I said before, when he hits a home run, you think he hit his 600th.

"If you were standing where I was standing, as soon as he hit it, you think, 'Oh no, it's going to hook foul.' It really didn't. It stayed pretty straight. He hit the ball really good. When it hit the pole, the excitement in our dugout, watching him run around the bases and come in, was awesome."

Update: Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper hit solo homers and Stephen Strasburg had an RBI single to right to score another run.

Strasburg finished five innings, allowing only three hits and no runs with two walks and eight strikeouts. He now has tossed 23 consecutive scoreless innings against the Marlins. Strasburg threw 103 pitches, 68 for strikes.

Mid-sixth, the Nats lead 3-0.

Update II: The Nats tacked on two more in the seventh. Trea Turner hit an RBI double and Harper added a sacrifice fly to center field. Justin Miller pitched a 1-2-3 sixth with a strikeout. He has recorded four outs against four batters in his first two games with the Nats.

Mid-seventh, the Nats lead 5-0.

Update III: In the seventh, the Marlins prevented the shutout thanks to an RBI double by J.T. Realmuto off Wander Suero. Trevor Gott induced a grounder to first to end the threat. After seven innings, the Nats lead the Marlins 5-1.

Update IV: Sammy Solís allowed a Justin Bour solo shot to center field, but then retired three in a row.

After eight innings, the Nats lead 5-2 over the Marlins.

Update V: Brandon Kintzler tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.

Final score: Nats 5, Marlins 2. The Nats sweep the series and outscore the Marlins 18-8.