Nats Sweep The Marlins, Give Up Just 1 Run In 3 Games

Nationals 6, Marlins 1

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Marlins	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	8	2
Nationals	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	x		6	9	0

Read the full box score at MLB

The Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins 6-1 on Thursday at Nats Park to start the season off right with a sweep of the fish.  The Nats had a scary moment in the first inning where Bryce Harper took a shot to the face, but with solid defense, a few key double plays, and a 3 run BOMB by Jayson Werth the Nats rolled the Marlins.

In the series the Nats gave up only 1 run, a solo homerun by Justin Ruggiano.  After Strasburg and Gonzalez set the bar for the Nats pitching staff with 2 shutouts Jordan Zimmermann was one bad pitch of a shutout of his own.  Zim gave up a homer to Justin Ruggiano in the 2nd inning, but after that the Marlins couldn't reach homeplate.  The Nats 3rd starter gave up 8 hits, 2 walks, and lots of ground balls, but only the 1 run in 6 innings of work.

Bryce Harper continued his monumental start going 2 for 4 for the 3rd straight game.  Harper also had that risky play at the plate (he could have easily been thrown out) as well as a caught stealing of third base with just 1 out and the cleanup hitter at the plate.  Bryce is now 6 for 12 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs on the season.

"THAT BALL IS ROCKED" - Bob Carpenter

But the real star of the game was Jayson Werth.  After contributing defensively for two games, his offense finally broke through.  Werth went 2 for 4 including crushing a 3 run homer to put the Marlins to rest in the 7th.

The Nats went with an uneventful H-Rod (Or Mr. Henry as he is now known) 7th, Clippard in the 8th, and Stammen closing down the 9th.  In case you are counting the Nats bullpen has a 0.00 ERA with 2 saves.

Despite having just one more hit than the Marlins (9 to 8) the Nats dominated the ballgame.  The Marlins were a good warm-up, but they are far from a good baseball team.  The Cincinnati Reds on the other hand, who the Nats begin a 3 game set with tomorrow, are the cream of the crop in the National League.  It should be a real test for Haren, Detwiler, and even Strasburg.