Marlins complete the sweep in 6-2 win over reeling Nats

MIAMI - Right fielder Bryce Harper helped the Nats' scoring issues with a solo homer in the second off Marlins starter Dan Haren. Harper evened the count after falling down 0-2 and then smacked his fifth bomb of the year to right field.

It's the sixth home run that Haren has given up in four outings.

Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to second baseman Dee Gordon in the first but was no harm was done as Gonzalez was able to strikeout right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and center fielder Marcell Ozuna to end the inning.

Update: The Nats continue to hurt themselves with poor fielding that leads to unneccessary runs. It looked like Gonzalez would get out of the fourth inning after Stanton got hung up rounding third on an infield single from left fielder Ichiro Suzuki. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman fired home to catcher Wilson Ramos, who chased Stanton back up the line. But third baseman Yunel Escobar drifted away from the bag and Ramos never threw the ball, allowing Stanton to dive in safely to third.

That left Gonzalez to face Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria with the bases loaded. It didn't go well. The red-hot Hechavarria smoked a triple to right-center giving the Marlins a two-run advantage.

Hechavarria is 4-for-9 with a homer, triple, double, three runs and six RBIs in the series.

The Nats came back with a run in the fifth when center fielder Denard Span singled home Ramos with two outs.

But the relentless Marlins added two more in the bottom of the inning on a rocket from Stanton that went for an RBI triple. Ozuna followed with a sacrafice fly to easily score Stanton.

Update II: Catcher J.T. Realmuto's triple to start the sixth was the Marlins' third straight inning with a three-bagger. Gonzalez's afternoon ended after surrendering a RBI single to Suzuki.

Gonzalez gave six runs on 10 hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in a disappointing return to his hometown.

The Nationals have managed just three hits through seven innings.

Update III: The Marlins beat the Nats 6-2 to complete the three-game sweep. The five-game losing streak is the worst for the Nats since July 2013.