Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Box Score on Aug 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 1, 2017

MIAMI -- The first-place Washington Nationals lost star pitcher Max Scherzer to a neck spasm and then blew a six-run lead, falling 7-6 to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.

Scherzer hit his first career homer, a three-run blast, in the top of the second, but he could not throw a pitch in the bottom of the inning.

Miami left fielder Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer, this one tying the score 6-6 in the fifth inning, and teammate Derek Dietrich had the go-ahead RBI with a triple in the same inning.

Nationals left fielder Howie Kendrick also had a big game, going 5-for-5 with a two-run homer. He tied his career high with five hits.

Marlins reliever Brad Ziegler picked up his first save, getting Ryan Zimmerman to bounce out with two down and runners on the corners.

However, the big story was Scherzer, a two-time Cy Young winner who is 12-5 with a 2.21 ERA this season. He pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, but when he came out to throw his warm-up pitches for the second, he left the mound, telling manager Dusty Baker: "I can't go."

Washington's bullpen couldn't hold a 6-0 lead, and the biggest shot came from Ozuna, an All-Star left fielder who has 25 homers and 84 RBIs, one short of his career high in the latter category.

Nationals reliever Matt Albers (5-2), who allowed Ozuna's homer, took the loss. Marlins reliever Dustin McGowan (7-1) was the winner after tossing two scoreless innings.

The first-place Nationals (63-42) still lead the second-place Marlins (50-55) by 13 games in the National League East.

Marlins rookie left-hander Chris O'Grady took a no-decision despite allowing seven hits, two walks and six runs in three innings.

O'Grady fell apart in the second inning when Washington scored six runs. The rally started when Daniel Murphy doubled to right. Anthony Rendon followed with an RBI double to left-center. After an infield hit by Brian Goodwin, Scherzer hit a 0-2 breaking ball to left for his three-run homer.

The rally continued when Wilmer Difo singled and Kendrick homered to left center, also on a breaking ball.

Miami cut its deficit to 6-1 in the third when Miguel Rojas tripled to right center and scored on a Dee Gordon groundout. Goodwin, Washington's center fielder, made a diving attempt at Rojas' line drive but came up empty.

The Marlins added two runs in the fourth. Ozuna singled and J.T. Realmuto walked to start the rally. Ozuna scored on Tomas Telis' sacrifice fly, and Realmuto came home on a Rojas single.

Ozuna's homer to left tied the score 6-6 in the fifth. Later in the inning, Dietrich hit an RBI triple high off the wall in center to give Miami a 7-6 lead.

NOTES: Marlins manager Don Mattingly said RHP Edinson Volquez (elbow) and SS JT Riddle (shoulder) are out for the year. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (elbow) is unlikely to be ready by Thursday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. ... Nationals CF Michael A. Taylor (oblique) started a rehab assignment on Monday and went 0-for-2 in a Class A game. ... Nationals RHP Brandon Kintzler, acquired Monday from the Minnesota Twins, is expected to arrive in Miami on Wednesday. The Twins had an off day in San Diego on Monday and Kintzler was at the zoo -- feeding a rhino, according to his tweet -- when he got news he was traded. ... Marlins RHP Vance Worley (0-2, 6.42 ERA) will start Wednesday's series finale. Washington has yet to announce its starter.