Bryce Harper on Doug Fister: "That looked like old Dougie"

MIAMI - Doug Fister was arguably the Nationals' best starting pitcher last season, leading the rotation with 16 wins and a 2.41 ERA. However, the tall right-hander has not been the same force this year. He entered Wednesday's start against the Marlins winless in over a month and with a 4.50 ERA, the highest in his seven-year career in the majors.

The Marlins weren't able to manage much against Fister, who surrendered just two runs on four hits with one walk, two hit batters and four strikeouts in the Nationals' 7-2 win.

"Fister went out there and did his job and had a great game out there (Wednesday)," Bryce Harper said after his two-homer performance helped Fister gain the victory. "To go out there and just attack the zone and do what he did today. ... That looked like old Dougie."

After giving up four runs on nine hits over five innings in a loss at Pittsburgh last Thursday, Fister indicated he needed to focus on his mechanics and, more importantly, his approach.

"We went and really worked hard in the bullpen three days ago, and it made a huge difference," Fister said. "We ended the bullpen on a positive note, and that was a big turning point for me, getting that good feeling."

Opposing teams have hit .307 off Fister this season, mostly because his sinker has been flat and without the devastating drop that's helped him to so much success during his career.

"Keeping the ball down," Fister said. "That was the goal was, 'Staying tall and keeping the ball down.' (Wednesday night) was much better. More consistent. Still left a few balls up and in the middle of the plate, but I kept it to a fairly minimum number to keep within reason. So it's another stride in the right direction, and we're continuing to work on it."

Nationals manager Matt Williams expressed after the win that Fister appeared more comfortable and in command during the outing.

"He worked ahead," Williams said. "Good slider, good cutter against the lefties. Better changeup. I thought his tempo was good. All around, he pitched well."

Williams said Fister, who threw 96 pitches, could've gone back out for the seventh if the Nationals didn't need to get right-handers Casey Janssen and Drew Storen some work out of the bullpen.

Meanwhile, like the healthy additions of Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman figure to be a major boost for the Nats lineup, a rejuvenated Fister certainly would help the rotation fulfill some of the lofty preseason predictions heaped on it, with just over two months left in the year.

"Now I've got high expectations for myself, continuing on and building on top of this," Fister said.