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Washington Nationals Recap: Home Run Frenzy Gives Nats 7-0 Win Over Marlins

By Matt Weyrich

Apr 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (center) is greeted by Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (left) after Harper hit a grand slam during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (center) is greeted by Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (left) after Harper hit a grand slam during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals shutout the Miami Marlins 7-0 behind a seven-run inning that featured four homers, including Bryce Harper’s second grand slam of the season. Stephen Strasburg threw eight scoreless innings en route to his third win in as many starts.

Both starters came out of the gate firing all cylinders, with neither team able to record more than four hits through the first six innings. Adam Conley made the start for Miami (4-8) and worked his way out of a few jams to get the game into the seventh locked at 0-0.

The Nats would finally get their bats going in their half of the frame, and it wasn’t pretty for Marlins fans. After Daniel Murphy led off the inning with a fly out, Jayson Werth smacked his 200th career home run into the statue in left center. Next up was Wilson Ramos, who promptly crushed a bomb of his own to the exact same spot.

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Danny Espinosa fouled out for the second out in the inning, but that wouldn’t be enough to stop the Nats. Strasburg hit his second single of the game, and Michael Taylor followed with a double into the left field corner to put runners on second and third. Miami Manager Don Mattingly then pulled Conley in favor of right-handed reliever Nick Wittgren, who promptly walked Anthony Rendon to bring up Harper with the bases loaded.

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Mattingly went to the bullpen once again, bringing in southpaw Chris Narveson to face Harper. The 23-year old, who hit his first career grand slam the last time he had an at-bat with the bases loaded last Thursday, did it once again. His 403-foot blast was his fifth homer in his last six games, and his seventh of the year. Finally, for good measure, Ryan Zimmerman joined the party and hit a home run of his own to give Washington seven runs in the inning.

While Harper and the offense might make the headlines in this one, Strasburg quietly dominated the Miami bats through eight innings of three-hit ball. He did not allow a runner to get past second base, striking out ten while walking two. He is now 3-0 in three starts on the year with a sparkling 1.25 ERA.

Next: Reaction: Nats Offense Struggles Against Fernandez

Shawn Kelley closed out the game for Washington in the ninth, giving the Nats a 10-3 record to start the season. They snapped their two-game skid to keep their division lead over the Mets at three games.

Next Up: The Nats and Marlins continue their series Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. You can watch the game on MASN2.  Joe Ross (2-0, 0.61 ERA) will get the nod for Washington against Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 5.56).

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