Just one day after Tanner Roark pitched a great game that may have put him temporarily in the lead for the fifth spot in the rotation, Taylor Jordan turned in one of his strongest performances of the spring as he led the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. Roark may very well still get the job, but if nothing else, Jordan certainly made the decision even more difficult for manager Matt Williams.

The right-hander threw five and two-thirds innings of one-run ball while allowing just five hits and striking out two batters. Jordan’s final line was nearly identical to that of Roark from yesterday and lowered his spring ERA to 3.92.

The Nationals’ helped Jordan out early on, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Nate McLouth. Strong pitching from both sides kept it a one-run game until the top of the sixth inning when McLouth did some more damage, this time with a solo home run to right field.

But the Marlins would cut the Nationals’ lead in half in the bottom of the frame after an RBI double off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton made it a 2-1 game. Fortunately for the Nationals that was all the damage the Marlins would do. Washington scored two more runs over the last three innings and won the game, 4-1.

The Nationals return to Viera tomorrow afternoon to take on the New York Mets for the second to last time this spring. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.