Ross on tough loss: "I thought I pitched pretty well"

MIAMI - Nationals right-hander Joe Ross deserved better on his 23rd birthday.

And despite falling 3-2 to the Marlins, he really stood toe-to-toe with Marlins ace Jose Fernandez for most of the game.

Manager Dusty Baker had said in pregame the one way they could stay in the game against Fernandez is if Ross could hang with him. He pretty much did.

"His total outing was outstanding," Baker said. "He was matching, other than the strikeouts. Every time Fernandez got a 3-2 count it was either out of the zone up or in the dirt. He looked like he did that by design."

The big blow was a Justin Bour two-run shot in the sixth that turned a tied game into a 3-1 Marlins lead.

"I will have to look at it again but it was just a poorly located changeup, definitely low and in, especially for lefties, usually their happy zone," Ross said. "He put a good swing on it, hit it out."

Ross finished 5 2/3 innings, scattered eight hits and allowed three runs, all earned, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Besides the homer, he also lamented the throwing error to check Ichiro Suzuki at first base in the fifth. The Marlins were able to score their first run of the game in that frame.

"Honestly, other than that I thought I pitched pretty well," Ross said. "There were a few things that could've gone either way just in terms of some base hits or that ball I threw away at first. If there was one pitch I could take back it was that home run definitely."

And in the ninth-inning comeback attempt, Ross watched from the clubhouse as the promising rally turned into just one run after they had loaded the bases with no outs.

"I was in here working with the trainers doing my postgame stuff," Ross said. "I guess getting your hopes up with three or four guys on in a row. And then probably the most unlucky play we could've had, other than a triple play to end the game. But it's alright, nothing I can do about it."

Daniel Murphy on the confidence he has in Jayson Werth if that same scenario comes up again later in the season. Werth grounded into a double play that slowed the rally in the ninth. Jose Lobaton grounded out to end the game.

"I think that it's a situation where we'll take Jayson up there in that situation," Murphy said. "I'll take him up there the rest of the year and take my chances."

Programming Note: Check out "Nats Insider" today 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Nats flagship 106.7 The Fan with guests Jamal Collier from MLB.com and sound from Ross and Baker.