Nats fall 2-1, drop fourth straight

Marlins left-hander Jarred Cosart walked Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper in the first inning, but the Nationals stranded both when Yunel Escobar popped out and Ian Desmond struck out to end the inning.

Gio Gonzalez was rolling through the first three innings until he issued a one-out walk to Martin Prado in the fourth. Justin Bour followed with a single to right, advancing Prado to third. With runners at the corners, Marcell Ozuna hit a slow bouncing ball to Desmond, who could only get the force at second, allowing Prado to score the game's first run.

The Nationals are 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and have left six men on base through the first five innings.

Update: Escobar picked up his second hit of the game on a single to center to start the sixth. Marlins right-hander Kyle Barraclough followed with an errant pickoff throw, allowing Escobar to take second. Escobar moved to third on Desmond's fly ball, and then tagged and scored on Wilson Ramos' drive to right-center.

Update II: Gonzalez yielded a leadoff single to Christian Yelich and then walked Prado to start the sixth. After Bour lifted a fly ball to deep center, Nationals manager Matt Williams pulled Gonzalez.

RIght-hander Blake Treinen was summoned from the bullpen and quickly got Ozuna to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Gonzalez allowed one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 87 pitches.

Bryce Harper had two on with two outs, but struck out for the third time tonight to end the seventh.

Right-hander Casey Janssen gave up a leadoff double to J.T. Realmuto in the bottom of the frame. After advancing to third on Ichiro's sacrifice bunt, Realmuto then tagged and scored on Miguel Rojas' flyout to right.

Update III: The Nationals went quietly in the eighth and ninth.

The Marlins beat the Nats 2-1.