Nationals hold off Marlins 3-2 in thrilling 10th frame

The Washington Nationals got out of a two men on, nobody out situation in the 10th inning to survive the Marlins, 3-2 in a thrilling extra-inning affair at Sun Life Stadium, snapping their losing streak at three. The Nationals are now 4-1 in extra innings this season. The game was tied 2-2 from the sixth inning on. With one out in the 10th, Jayson Werth walked against Michael Dunn (2-2) and then Laynce Nix slapped a double to get Werth to third base. Adam LaRoche, who has struggled early on with runners in scoring position, lofted a fly ball out to score the go-ahead run, and the Nationals led 3-2. Drew Storen (2-1) got the win, but not before a nail-biting 10th frame. With men on second and third and one out, Storen struck out Wes Helms. Sean Burnett earned his fourth save by inducing Chris Coghlan into a game-ending soft fly ball to center field.

Starters Jordan Zimmermann and Ricky Nolasco were outstanding, combining for 17 strikeouts. Jerry Hairston, Jr. was the hitting hero for the Nationals, going 3-for-3, including a second-inning RBI double that gave the Nats a 1-0 lead. Adam LaRoche led off the fourth inning by reaching on an Omar Infante error. Ivan Rodriguez's ground out got LaRoche to second. Hairston's key single put LaRoche on third. Ian Desmond managed a sacrifice fly RBI to give the Nats a 2-0 advantage. Zimmermann is doing quite well against this Florida lineup, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and one walk through four full. In the fifth, however, the Marlins got on the board. Greg Dobbs singled and then John Buck doubled. With Dobbs at third, a sac fly RBI from Infante plated Florida's first run of the night, 2-1 Nationals. Another big play for the Nats in the inning when Buck tried to steal home and was gunned down on a run down throw from Alex Cora to Rodriguez, preserving the Nats slim advantage. The Marlins got to Zimmermann again in the sixth on key hits by Hanley Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez to tie the game at two. LaRoche got the Nats out of the inning with a sweet unassisted double play.