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Washington Nationals Bounce Back With Team Win Against Marlins

By Ricky Keeler

Sep 21, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; MLB home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater (85) calls Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) safe on a play scoring a run during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Nationals won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; MLB home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater (85) calls Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) safe on a play scoring a run during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Nationals won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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In a game the Washington Nationals needed, the team bounced back by snapping their four game losing streak against the Marlins 

While last night’s Washington Nationals (89-53) 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins wasn’t a must win, it was a win they needed after four consecutive losses. Even with Daniel Murphy out of the lineup, the Nats got hits from seven of the eight position players in the lineup and got another good start from Max Scherzer as the team responded in a big way.

Last night, the Washington Nationals were able to take advantage of a defensive mistake by the Marlins. In the third inning with Trea Turrner at-bat, Tom Koehler threw the ball into center that allowed Danny Espinosa to score the first run of the night. For the Nats, it was the first time they scored first in a game since last Saturday against the Braves.

One inning later, Ryan Zimmerman picked up a huge three-run home run to left field to put the Washington Nationals up 4-0. The 31-year-old first baseman hit his first home run since September 6 and his third home run since August 1. It’s been a rough season for Zimmerman, but could that home run get him going down the stretch (3-for-8 in the series)?

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The four runs would be all the runs Scherzer needed. The Nats ace did what aces do and that is become the stopper in long losing streaks. He went 6.2 innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out eight, and walked two in his 18th win of the season.

Scherzer is 6-0 in his last eight starts and he is 8-1 since the All-Star Break (13 starts). During the second and third innings, he had four straight strikeouts. In the win, he used his slider to record five of the eight K’s.

According to Brooks Baseball, Scherzer’s slider has been nasty since the All-Star Break. Opposing teams are hitting a mere .110 against the slider with no home runs and 32 strikeout

If Scherzer made any mistakes, those came in the seventh inning when he gave up home runs to Christian Yelich and Derek Dietrich. While Scherzer gave up 21 home runs in the first half, he has given up  seven since the All-Star Break.

Some other contributors to last night’s win were Jayson Werth‘s fifth inning single, Trea Turner‘s solo home run in the top of the seventh, and insurance RBI’s from Wilson Ramos (double) and Danny Espinosa (sacrifice fly) in the eighth. Plus, the bullpen did not allow a single hit over the final 2.1 innings of the game.

All in all, last night’s Washington Nationals win was a team effort. Although it wasn’t a “must win”, it was a win that will help the team’s confidence going into Pittsburgh.

Next: 2016 Potomac Nationals Year In Review

With the magic number to clinch the NL East down to two, they will have a chance to clinch the division this weekend. Right now, getting contributions from everyone are key as the team will need that when the postseason begins.

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