Fernandez too much for the Nationals in 5-1 loss

Jose Fernandez beat the Nationals with his arm and his bat Sunday.

Fernandez threw seven innings, allowing only one run, and provided a huge two-run single with the bases loaded that put the game out of reach.

The Marlins won 5-1, splitting the four-game set.

Fernandez got some early assistance from the Nationals defense.

With two outs and two men on in the third inning, Martin Prado's infield pop-up was dropped by Stephen Drew as he battled the bright sunshine, allowing both runs to score and the Marlins led 2-0.

The Nationals' only run came in the fourth inning after a scary collision between outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Ginacarlo Stanton.

Ryan Zimmerman launched a long fly ball to deep right-center field. Ozuna and Stanton collided tracking the ball, their legs getting tangled up. Both players went down to the ground and layed motionless for several seconds.

After being attended to by the Marlins medical and training staff, both remained to the game.

Zimmerman scored on the inside-the-park-homer, the third in Nationals history. Austin Kearns hit one in 2007 against Florida. Willie Harris hit one in 2010 against Atlanta.

Later, Stanton crushed a solo homer to lead off the sixth that extended the Marlins' lead to 3-1. Fernandez's two-run single finished off the scoring.

The Nationals put two men on with no outs in the ninth but were unable to rally.

Joe Ross (3-3) allowed four hits and three runs in the sixth inning. He has now lost three games in a row.

Fernandez (5-2) pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, one run (earned), three walks and 11 strikeouts.

The Nationals have recently repeated an unfortunate trend of beginning home and road stands with wins but then fading at the end.

April 22-28 homestand: started 3-0, ended 0-3. Overall: 3-3

April 29-May 8: road trip: started 5-1, finished 0-4. Overall: 5-5

May 9-15 homestand: started 4-1, finished 0-2. Overall: 4-3

Total since April 22: 12-11.

The Nationals have lost 11 of their last 20 games.