Fresh off two rough setbacks in Miami, the Nationals wanted nothing more than to get off to a good start in the final game of the three-game set against the Marlins in Miami.
They had lost the first two games - a heartbreaking 7-6 comeback loss Monday and a 3-0 shutout Tuesday.
The Marlins sent out left-hander Brad Hand, who was 0-3 with an 8.71 ERA in seven games (five starts) against the Nationals.
The Nationals got to him early thanks to a Denard Span walk. Anthony Rendon followed with an electric liner down the left field line, just inside the third base bag. Span scored to make it 1-0 Nationals.
Tanner Roark walked Christian Yelich to start the game, but then induced three flyouts to end the first.
The Nationals lead 1-0 after one inning at Marlins Park.
Update: In the fourth, Jordany Valdespin got a hold of a 3-2 Roark offering and slammed it for a solo shot, his second homer of the season. The game is tied 1-1.
Update II: If the Nationals don't win this game, you can't blame Roark. He finished seven innings, allowing just a solo homer and totaling three hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. He fired 112 pitches, 75 for strikes.
Update III: In the eighth, pinch-hitter Scott Hairston generated a lead off double. Jayson Werth later delivered a sac fly to score pinch-runner Nate McLouth and the Nationals led 2-1.
Later with two men on, Ian Desmond cranked a two-run double and the Nationals lead 4-1 as the game heads to the ninth.
Update IV: Giancarlo Stanton greeted Drew Storen with his 24th homer of the season, a solo shot, to lead off the ninth and the Nationals led 4-2.
Later with two outs, Adeiny Hechavarria added a run-scoring double down the right field line and the Nationals led 4-3.
Storen walked pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia to put men on first and second.
He then got pinch-hitter Reed Johnson to ground into a force out at second to end the game and a 4-3 Nationals win.
It marked Storen's first save of the season. Roark improves to 11-6. Hand is now 0-4 versus the Nationals, who end up 5-4 on the nine-game road trip. They return home for eight straight games at home.
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