Nationals 5 - 2 Marlins
Final/10
  for this game

Marlins shoot for sweep of Nationals

Jul 14, 2013 - 12:01 PM (Sports Network) - Henderson Alvarez makes his third start of the season since coming off the disabled list and will try to help the Miami Marlins complete a three-game series sweep of the Washington Nationals.

A whitewash would be some consolation to a horrible first half of the season for the Marlins, who have won their last three contests.

Alvarez is coming off a 6-4 loss to the Braves on Tuesday at Marlins Park as he allowed five runs -- four earned -- over six innings. The right-hander, who was on the 60-day disabled list earlier this season due to right shoulder inflammation, has faced the Nationals just once before. That came in a Blue Jays uniform on June 12, 2012 when he suffered a loss.

Taylor Jordan, a native of Merritt Island, Fla. and a Brevard Community College alum, gets his first career start in the Sunshine State. The righty, who will make his fourth big league start, has thrown 5 2/3 innings in each of his previous two appearances. That includes a loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Last night, Ed Lucas beat out a potential inning-ending double-play grounder to score Adeiny Hechavarria from third in the bottom of the 10th to cap a 2-1 Miami win.

Steve Cishek (3-4) was credited with the win. The right-hander pitched his way out of the 10th inning after putting runners on second and third with one out.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run to left field off closer Rafael Soriano in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game. It was Soriano's first blown save since May 21 against the San Francisco Giants.

"I never think homer," Stanton said. "You may swing harder in some counts, so whatever, whatever. But I had two strikes, so that was more, 'Get the barrel on the ball.' It was still a ball, but I got my hands to it. That's thing. If the ball is up and you get your hands to it, it's going to go if you get on top of it."

Dan Haren pitched six strong innings in his best outing of the season. The right-hander lost seven consecutive decisions in his last nine starts, but surrendered three hits with one walk, while striking out seven batters in a no-decision for the Nats.

Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-5 for the Nationals, who only have one victory six games into this seven-game road trip.

All-Star Jose Fernandez started the game for the Marlins. The right-hander gave up one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The only run he allowed in six innings of work came in the top of the fourth inning when a Jayson Werth sacrifice fly scored Bryce Harper.

The Nationals lead the season series, 5-3.






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