With Turner back, Nats lineup enjoys another big night

The sight of Jayson Werth in the lineup Monday night elicited plenty of smiles from the rest of the Nationals. The sight of Trea Turner in the lineup tonight elicited plenty more. The sight of Bryce Harper in the lineup - whenever that day comes - will elicit the biggest smiles of them all and leave this first-place club feeling as good about itself as it has all year long.

"It's just good to slowly start getting our opening day lineup back," Anthony Rendon said following tonight's 8-3 win over the Marlins. "We've said it all year that guys have been stepping up. (Turner) goes down. (Adam) Eaton goes down. Werth goes down. I mean, that's a core part of our lineup right there. But the fact that we have guys that can come in and continue to be successful, that's a testimony to them."

The Nationals survived a summer of injuries thanks to the yeoman efforts of backups like Wilmer Difo, Adam Lind, Brian Goodwin and Michael A. Taylor. But now the cavalry is returning, and the early results have been something to watch.

Werth returned from an 85-day stint on the disabled list Monday night and helped the Nationals score 11 runs. Turner returned from a 60-day stint on the DL tonight and helped the Nats score eight runs.

The dynamic leadoff man may not have put up a sparkling batting line - he went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk - but his presence was noticed. Manager Dusty Baker said before the game Turner's return would have a positive domino effect on those batting behind him, and then went out and watched that happen.

The biggest producers at the plate tonight? No. 3 hitter Daniel Murphy (2-for-3, two RBIs), cleanup hitter Ryan Zimmerman (1-for-2, RBI, two walks), No. 5 hitter Lind (1-for-3, double, walk) and No. 6 hitter Rendon (2-for-3, four RBIs).

"Gotta get on base for those guys," Turner said. "It's always been the game plan all year, to get on base any way you can because those guys are unbelievable. And they've done it all year. We've had tons and tons of injuries, but people have stepped up. It seems to not matter who you put in there, one through eight."

The biggest hits tonight came in the biggest moments. Murphy drove in the Nationals' first two runs with a two-out single up the middle off an 0-2 pitch from Vance Worley in the third. Zimmerman delivered his RBI single moments after Murphy was intentionally walked in the fifth. And Rendon cleared the bases with a two-out double in the seventh, turning a tense two-run lead into a comfortable five-run cushion.

Baker has taken his share of criticism for batting Rendon sixth much of the season, but he believes his star third baseman is most valuable when batting behind the other big names who consistently get on base in front of him. Now Rendon has 85 RBIs, matching his career high even though 31 games still remain on the schedule.

"Much like (Wilson) Ramos was last year, he's amongst the leaders hitting with runners in scoring position, especially with two outs," Baker said of Rendon. "When you just need a single or a double, and you don't need a homer. He doesn't strike out very often. He doesn't hit into double plays very often. And then he has a knack of staying off close pitches or fouling off other pitches in order to get back into the count."

The Nationals didn't even have their best available lineup on the field tonight. Werth sat out the game after making his return Monday; he'll be back starting Wednesday afternoon, Baker said. Taylor and Howie Kendrick also sat out most of the game until each was a late defensive substitution.

Perhaps Wednesday the Nationals will have all those guys playing together. Or if not, maybe sometime this weekend in Milwaukee. And then all eyes will be on Harper, whose expected return sometime in September will be the final piece to the puzzle that makes the Nationals offensively complete again.

Tonight's game was merely an appetizer of what's still to come.

"It's nice to be in that lineup," Turner said. "And it's fun when it's clicking."