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Vazquez, Marlins blank Nationals

Sep 17, 2011 - 4:24 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Javier Vazquez tossed his first shutout in more than six years, helping the Florida Marlins beat the Washington Nationals, 3-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Vazquez (11-11) gave up just five hits while picking up his first shutout since May 22, 2005, while a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out seven and walked none to record his fourth straight victory.

The Marlins hurler had the highest ERA (6.85) among qualifying starters over his first 14 starts. In 16 starts since, he's 8-4 with a 1.96 ERA.

"It's been nice, obviously after all of my struggles after a year and a half, to go out there and win some ballgames for my team," Vazquez said.

He's surrendered just one earned run in his last 29 innings pitched.

Washington starter John Lannan (9-13) suffered the loss for the sixth time in his last seven outings. He allowed three runs in six innings, surrendering eight hits while walking three and striking out one.

"Tonight was a battle," Lannan said. "I didn't have my best stuff, I was all over the place."

John Buck singled to center field to bring home Gaby Sanchez in the second inning to put the Marlins on the board.

The Nationals had their best opportunity to score in the second inning.

Rick Ankiel got on with a one-out single. Danny Espinosa followed by trying to stretch a single into a double, but was thrown out by Florida center fielder Bryan Petersen.

Petersen's assist nullified the Nationals from having men on second and third with one out. Instead, Ankiel stood at third with two outs. Chris Marrero flew out to right field to end the threat.

The Marlins tacked on two more runs in the third.

Mike Stanton laced an opposite field double in the right-center gap to plate Omar Infante, who led off the frame with a double down the left-field line. Stanton later scored on a Sanchez single up the middle.

Washington had another chance to break through in the seventh.

Ryan Zimmerman and Laynce Nix got on with a pair of singles, but Vazquez responded by striking out Ankiel and Espinosa. Buck showcased his arm by picking off pinch-runner Brian Bixler at first.

The victory snapped the Marlins' four-game losing streak and denied Washington a sixth straight win.

Game Notes

Vazquez threw his eighth career shutout and 27th career complete game...The Marlins are 13-3 at Nationals Park since the beginning of 2010, the best road mark against a divisional opponent in that stretch...Florida's Emilio Bonifacio and Stanton each went 3-for-5.