Shaky start for Fister, quiet bats for Nats (Nats lose 5-4)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Marlins 5, Nationals 4

Recap: Doug Fister allowed two runs on six hits with a strikeout in four innings. He threw 57 pitches, 39 for strikes. The Nats were finally able to get to Marlins starter Mat Latos in the fourth when Michael A. Taylor singled, stole second and then scored on a Dan Uggla double. After Uggla swiped third, Ryan Zimmerman plated him on a ground ball. Clint Robinson hit a hit a solo homer in the fifth and Matt Skole hit a solo shot in the ninth.

Need to know: Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton was 3-for-3 against Nats pitching, including a solo blast to center off reliever Casey Janssen in the sixth. Gio Gonzalez makes his third start of the exhibition season against the Tigers at Space Coast Stadium tomorrow.

On deck: Thursday vs. Detroit Tigers in Viera, 1:05 p.m
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JUPITER, Fla. - It's been a slow start for the Nationals offense, which hasn't been able to manage a hit against Marlins starter Mat Latos through the first three innings.

Meanwhile, Doug Fister retired the first two batters of the game before surrendering a double to Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. No harm was done, as Fister was able to ring up Michael Morse to end the inning.

Fister gave up singles in the second to Martin Prado, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Adeiny Hechavarria, resulting in the game's first run. The Nats came up with a nice double play to get out of the jam when catcher Jose Lobaton picked up a Latos bunt and fired to Ian Stewart at third base for the force out. Stewart quickly launched it across the diamond to Ryan Zimmerman to get Latos at first.

Dee Gordon led off the Marlins second with a double and advanced to third when he tagged on a fly ball to Tyler Moore one batter later. Stanton then singled home Gordon to give the Marlins their second run. Morse grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Marlins lead the Nats 2-0 in the third.

Update: Michael A. Taylor knocked a Latos pitch into right field to lead off the fourth with a single. After stealing second, Taylor scored when second baseman Dan Uggla hit a ground rule double that hopped over the right field wall. Uggla then stole third as the Nats were aggressive on the basepaths in the inning. Zimmerman drove in Uggla on a groundout and the Nats tied the game up.

Fister was able to get the Marlins in order in the bottom of the inning. Two runs on six hits with one strikeout in four innings today for Fister.

Right fielder Clint Robinson bombed a solo homer on the first pitch of the fifth inning to push the Nats in front. It was Robinson's second homer of the spring after hitting a grand slam against the Mets last week.

The Nationals lead the Marlins 3-2 in the fifth.