Feverish ninth-inning rally falls just short in Nats' loss to Marlins

MIAMI - Pretty much everything went right for the Nationals as they attempted a spectacular comeback in the ninth inning - until it all went wrong with one quick swing.

Down 3-1 in the top of the ninth and facing Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, the Nationals put men on first and third thanks to singles by Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy.

A Wilson Ramos pinch-hit single scored Harper and suddenly the Nationals had cut the Marlins' advantage to 3-2.

Anthony Rendon worked A.J. Ramos for a walk to load the bases with none one out.

Pinch-hitter Jayson Werth, in a 1-2 count, grounded a hot shot right to Marlins third baseman Martin Prado, who stepped on third to force pinch-runner Michael A. Taylor and then quickly fired home to J.T. Realmuto. The catcher placed the tag on Murphy for the double play.

Suddenly the tables turned back in favor of the Marlins.

Jose Lobaton grounded to first to end the game and the Nationals' feverish rally, which had looked so promising, evaporated almost instantly. The Marlins held on for the 3-2 victory.

"There's nothing to talk about," Werth said as he left the clubhouse.

Murphy described the Werth at-bat in the ninth and the play as he ran for home.

"Quality at-bat and Jayson's been having them," Murphy said. "In this kind of spot there, if he hits that ball in the five-, six-hole, it's maybe two the other way. I didn't see the play because I was running home, but it sounds like Martin made a really nice play on it.

"Ramos starts him off with a breaking ball and then it's a really good pitch to get 0-2, and so now Jayson is really battling. I think with the way Jayson's been swinging the bat, I think we all expected a quality at-bat, but those guys on the other side get paid, too."

Manager Dusty Baker also lamented the ball Werth hit to third base. Anywhere else on the left side of the infield, he said, and the Nationals score.

"Yeah, because if he hits that ball to short or second, it's a double play, we get a run," Baker said. "(Prado) made a heck of a play. To short-hop that ball, ball could've went off his glove or down the line. He made a heck of a play, stepped on third and threw home."

Baker emptied the bench for the opportunity. He had Wilson Ramos, Taylor and Werth available to bat or run in that final surge to the line.

"We were pulling out all the stops we could to win the game," Baker said. "We (felt we had) a great chance ... to win the game, too. We were thinking winning the game at that point. I was out of men. We were going for broke right there. We didn't bunt Rendon because in that situation, I thought he was the best hitter.

"My guys they battled, I mean, they battled, big time. They're probably happy over there on the other side, but they got away."

Murphy was asked how frustrating it was to see such a promising start to an inning fall apart on one swing.

"Yeah, I'd say that's a fair way to describe it: frustrating," Murphy said.

Marcell Ozuna tripled and Justin Bour crushed a two-run shot to help the Marlins to a 3-1 lead in the sixth.

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross (3-4) lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He is now 0-4 in May.

Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez (6-2) was solid again. He pitched six innings and allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts to improve to 6-0 against the Nationals and 21-1 in his career at Marlins Park.