Zimmermann suffers another rough May start (Marlins win 8-5 in 10 innings)

Following Tuesday's rainout, Wednesday's game turned into the series finale between the Nationals and Marlins. Prior to Monday, the three game set would have decided second place in the National League East in late May. Now that the series has been reduced to a pair of games and the Nationals dropped the opener Monday night 3-2, it is important they get a split before Miami leaves town. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann did a nice job of working around two hits in the first innings thanks to a nifty 6-4-3 double play and bad base running by Christian Yelich. Yelich led off the game with a double, but then was caught going to third on a ground ball hit right to shortstop Ian Desmond. In the second, facing starter Henderson Alvarez, the Marlins caught Desmond off of first after right fielder Giancarlo Stanton grabbed a liner from Kevin Frandsen. Stanton then threw back to first base to catch Desmond slow to get back and it was a 9-3 double play. There is no score after two innings. Update: The Marlins grabbed the lead in the fourth thanks to a flurry of singles. Garrett Jones' run-scoring base hit scored Derek Dietrich and the Marlins led 1-0. After a strikeout, Marcell Ozuna added an RBI single and the Marlins upped their lead to 2-0. Adeiny Hechavarria followed with another base hit scoring Jones. The relay throw from right fielder Jayson Werth got away from second baseman Kevin Frandse which allowed Ozuna to come across home plate. Werth was charged with an error. Suddenly, the Marlins led 4-0. The Marlins already have seven hits. Update II: Zimmermann was pulled after five innings. He allowed eight hits, four runs, three earned, one walk and three strikeouts. He fired 80 pitches, 53 for strikes. He has now allowed 16 runs, 15 of them earned in his last four starts. After five frames, Marlins still led 4-0. Update III: Alvarez is done after five innings. He surrendered five hits, no runs, no walks, hit one batter and struck out two batters. In the sixth inning against Marlins reliever Chris Hatcher, Nate McLouth slapped a two-run double into right field, and the Nationals trailed 4-2. McLouth is now 3-for-3. With two outs against Dan Jennings, pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa walked which loaded the bases for Denard Span. Span reached on an error by first baseman Jones, and the Marlins lead was down to one, 4-3. Update IV: The Marlins reported that Alvarez left the game for precautionary reasons due to right elbow stiffness. Facing A.J. Ramos in the seventh with two outs, Wilson Ramos (no relation) crushed a solo homer to tie the game at 4-4. It was Ramos' first home run since September 27, 2013 at Arizona. Update V: Wilson Ramos is having a pretty good game. In the next inning, he picked Casey McGehee leaning off first base with two men on to end the threat. The Nationals and Marlins are even at 4 heading to bottom of the eighth. Update VI: The Nationals loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with no outs against reliever Mike Dunn. McLouth and pinch-hitter Scott Hairston walked and Span beat out a bunt towards third base for a single. But Anthony Rendon struck out and Werth popped out in the infield. LaRoche then grounded out to first to end the chance. Game still tied 4-4 after eight innings. Update VII: McLouth tallied his fourth hit of the game in the ninth. It is the fourth time in his career he has had four hits in one game. We're heading to extra innings, all tied at 4-4. Update VIII: Marlins scored four runs in the 10th inning. McGehee had an RBI single and Jones added a two-run double. All three runs were allowed by Jerry Blevins. Ozuna later added a run-scoring single. An Adam LaRoche sacrifice fly in 10th brought Rendon home to make it 8-5 Marlins. The Marlins won 8-5 in 10 innings. The Nationals have lost six of their last seven games.