Nats drop fifth straight, manage only three hits in 2-0 shutout loss

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark rolled through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Three singles, a walk and a hit batter in the frame led to the Marlins' first run.

With runners at the corners and one out, J.T. Realmuto ripped a line drive single to right, scoring Christian Yelich.

An infield base hit from Ichiro Suzuki loaded the bases, but Roark was able to get Miguel Rojas to ground out to prevent any further damage.

The Nationals only managed three baserunners against Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez, who struck out seven over five innings of work.

Update: Pinch-hitting for Fernandez, Tomas Telis lined a single to left to start the fifth. Dee Gordon followed with the seventh hit of the night against Roark. Yelich then grounded a ball back to Roark, who went to Ian Desmond for the force at second. Desmond then fired to Anthony Rendon to get Telis, who made too big of a turn around third base.

Telis was originally called safe but Nationals manager Matt Williams challenged and the call was overturned for the inning's second out.

After Martin Prado singled to center, Williams ended Roark's night. Left-hander Sammy Solis came out of the bullpen and promptly surrendered an RBI base hit to Justin Bour.

Roark allowed two runs on eight hits with one walk, one hit batter and two strikeouts. He threw 69 pitches over 4 2/3 innings.

Rendon and Bryce Harper have the only hits for the Nats tonight.

Update II: Right-hander Joe Ross made his first appearance of the year our of the bullpen when he started the sixth. Ross gave up two hits with a strikeout before turning it over to left-hander Matt Thornton with two outs in the frame.

Thornton pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding just one hit.

Left-hander Matt Grace blanked the Marlins in the eighth.

After Trea Turner's walk to start the sixth, three Marlins relievers combined to retire nine straight Nationals.

The Nats send Rendon, Danny Espinosa and Harper to the plate in the ninth.

Update III: Rendon led off with a double and then advanced to third on Yelich's error. But Marlins closer A.J. Ramos then struck out Espinosa, Harper and Jayson Werth to end the game.

The Marlins beat the Nationals 2-0.