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 Werth connected in the sixth and Desmond went deep an inning later, breaking open a close game and powering Washington to its eighth victory in nine games. The Nationals pulled within 6 1/2 games of idle Cincinnati for the second NL wild-card slot.
Gonzalez (8-6) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in his first victory in six weeks. The left-hander, who was 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA in his previous seven starts, struck out eight and retired his last 11 batters.
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THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP's earlier story is below.
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Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond each hit a three-run homer, leading Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals to a 9-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Werth connected in the sixth and Desmond went deep an inning later, breaking open a close game and powering Washington to its eighth victory in nine games. The Nationals pulled within 6 1/2 games of idle Cincinnati for the second NL wild-card slot.
Gonzalez (8-6) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in his first victory since July 10 at Philadelphia. The left-hander, who was 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA in his previous seven starts, struck out eight and retired his last 11 batters.
Adeiny Hechavarria had two of Miami's four hits in its eighth loss in nine games -- matching its worst nine-game stretch since May . Tom Koehler (3-9) allowed six runs and seven hits, walked four and struck out one.
Ryan Zimmerman sparked Washington's offense with a leadoff walk in the fourth. Bryce Harper drove Koehler's next pitch over the wall in left for his 19th homer, extending his career-best hitting streak to 11 games.
Zimmerman, who went 3 for 3, led off the sixth with a base hit and Harper walked before Werth belted a drive to left for his 21st homer.
Desmond had the last homer of the night, a 1-2 shot to left with two out in the seventh for his 20th of the season. Zimmerman was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on Werth's single before Desmond went deep.
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Gonzalez gave Washington's bullpen some much needed rest.
Although the Nationals swept Miami, their first two starters didn't go deep. Stephen Strasburg pitched just three innings Wednesday due to a rain delay, and Ross Ohlendorf threw five-plus innings in the series opener.
Gonzalez walked three hitters in the first two innings, but they didn't score. The Marlins have drawn 34 walks in their last 10 games, and none of the runners have scored.
Miami has scored three or fewer runs in each of its last eight games, averaging 1.6 runs in that stretch.
The Nationals (68-65) were six games under .500 on Aug. 6, and now they're three games over for the first time since July 10 thanks to their hot offense.
Denard Span matched a career-best 12-game hit streak with his first-inning single, and Werth finished with three hits.
NOTES: The Marlins optioned RHP Arquimedes Caminero to Triple-A New Orleans and recalled RHP Sam Dyson from their top farm club. Caminero had a 2.25 ERA and a blown save in four games with Miami. Dyson was 1-3 with a 2.61 ERA in five starts for the Zephyrs and will fill a long-relief role with the Marlins. ... Washington manager Davey Johnson marveled at the inexperience of Strasburg, who's in his fourth season. During Wednesday's delay, pitching coach Steve McCatty worked with Strasburg. "(McCatty) said,
'Just relax. You've been in this situation,'" Johnson said. "(Strasburg) said, 'No, I haven't.' He was shocked." . Marlins 2B Donovan Solano hit leadoff for just the second time this season and first time since April. "We're at a point in the seasons where we have a chance to try different things," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. . A batted ball hit Miami RHP Ryan Webb in the back while he stretched on the field during the Nationals' batting practice. Webb fell to the ground, and Redmond asked Jose Fernandez why he was laughing. "He gets hit every time," Fernandez said. "We go anywhere, he gets hit." Webb left the field with a trainer, and a Miami spokesman said Webb had a bruised back.
[Associated
Press]
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