Zimmerman blast highlights big offensive night for Nats in 8-3 win

MIAMI - The offense needed a performance like they delivered Wednesday, especially after struggles in Atlanta and to begin this series.

Ryan Zimmerman crushed a three-run shot, highlighting an 8-3 win for the Nationals over the Marlins, salvaging the final game of the series and ending a four-game losing streak.

Trea Turner also homered in support of Max Scherzer, who allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings for his 18th win of the season.

Wilson Ramos added an RBI double and Jayson Werth had a run-scoring single. The eight runs matched the entire run total the Nationals had accumulated during their past four games, all losses.

Scherzer gave up a couple of home runs to Christian Yelich and pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich, but struck out eight batters and allowed only two other base hits to earn the win. The Marlins struck out eight times in the first six innings when Scherzer retired 18 of 21 batters.

"For the first six innings I really was on the top of my game and really had a good cutter going and locating the fastball, slider was good," Scherzer said. "I really was mixing and matching, when we needed shutdown inning I was able to go out there and put up zeroes when we really needed it and that really helped get the offense going."

Zimmerman almost homered in his first at-bat, a towering fly ball that was caught on the warning track by Yelich.

"I've been feeling good the last week or so," Zimmerman said. "I feel like I've been having good at-bats and haven't been getting too much to show for it. Trending in the right way and hopefully just got to continue working these last 10, 12 games whatever we have left, hopefully get hot at the right time."

Did he feel snake bit after that first shot was caught?

"I'm used to it," Zimmerman said of hitting in Marlins Park. "You play here enough. It's been a frustrating year for me so to finally do that and hit a ball good like that and not get anything for it ... it happens."

Scherzer appreciated what Zimmerman did in those first two at-bats and knows that it was the dimensions of this particular park that prevented a bigger day for his first baseman.

"It's great because in 99 percent of the other parks that ball is gone," Scherzer said. "He actually smoked that ball, so he could've had two home runs today. It's great to see him to get some momentum going and kind of get out of a funk and show that he can drive the baseball to all fields, oppo and pull."

Manager Dusty Baker could not believe that Zimmerman's first at-bat did not result in a homer.

"The first one he hit it a ton, we thought it was out, too," Baker said. "He had two great at-bats. That was a big three-run homer that he hit. We got some good offensive days out of some guys, especially after our offense has been a little sleepy the last couple of days."

The solo shot for Turner came in the seventh, his 12th homer of the season. The home run snapped an 0-for-10 in the series. He said the hit came as welcome relief with so many family and friends in attendance for the whole series from his nearby hometown of Boynton Beach, Fla.

"It felt good so I didn't have to listen to my mom yell at me or anything," Turner laughed. "It's fun having all of them here and I get to see them every day they come down as much as they can. Family, friends, everybody, it was nice to get a chance to play here. Last year I was here but didn't play much. It was good to get in there."

With the Mets losing, suddenly the magic number is down to just two. The Mets begin a series against Philadelphia on Thursday. The Nationals have a pretty good shot at clinching the National League East for the third time in five seasons on Friday in Pittsburgh.

For Turner, in only his second season playing at this level, it is certainly a special time.

"It feels great," Turner said. "I've never been a part of something like this. But it's exciting. Every game means something, even down the stretch, playing for home field advantage, whatever it may be. It's exciting. I enjoy it."

Baker was asked what did he think about when he saw the Mets lost and the magic number had dwindled to just two?

"Every game counts, whether they lose or we win," Baker said. "You'd rather win but it doesn't matter as long as you cross the finish line first."