Major League Baseball

Fernandez remains perfect in Miami, Marlins top Nats 4-1

Published Jul. 28, 2015 10:00 p.m. ET

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MIAMI (AP) Jose Fernandez tried to hide from Miami manager Dan Jennings in the dugout after the sixth inning, desperate to find any way to stay in the game.

It didn't work.

And that's about all that hasn't gone right for Fernandez at Marlins Park.

Fernandez stayed unbeaten in his home career, Dee Gordon's standup triple led to him scoring the go-ahead run in his return to the lineup after missing time with a thumb injury and the Marlins topped the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Tuesday night.

''His record speaks for itself, what he's been able to do here,'' Jennings said of Fernandez, who improved to 15-0 at home. ''I think it's remarkable.''

Martin Prado had three hits while Gordon and Christian Yelich had two each for Miami. Fernandez (4-0) allowed four hits and one run in six innings.

''My teammates have got my back, 100 percent,'' Fernandez said. ''It's great to see. ... I wasn't at my best tonight, but they made a really good night for all 25 of us. Really happy about it.''

Jordan Zimmermann (8-6) gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings. The Nationals lost for the first time in his last seven starts, and saw their lead in the NL East over the New York Mets trimmed to one game.

Bryce Harper reached base for the 24th straight game and 43rd straight on the road for the Nationals, who got Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup after long stints on the disabled list.

Washington also made news during the game, trading with Philadelphia for All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. And the Nationals' newly demoted closer, Drew Storen - who had 29 saves in 31 chances entering Tuesday - isn't happy.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he talked to Storen about the trade, and that he was sure it was going to be handled professionally.

''All I'm going to say is that I'm aware of the move and I've talked to Mike about it and talked to my agent and we've had some ongoing discussions and until those have progressed I'm going to leave it at that and no comment for now,'' Storen said. ''As the situation goes, I'll keep you guys posted.''

A.J. Ramos loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, before getting Yunel Escobar to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play and wrap up his 17th save in 21 chances.

''A couple times with the bases loaded and one out, and couldn't get it done tonight,'' Nationals manager Matt Williams said.

Tied 1-1 in the sixth, the Marlins took the lead with two runs off Zimmermann, who no-hit them on the final day of the 2014 regular season. Gordon led off with his triple, scored easily on a single to left by Prado and the Marlins had the lead for good.

The Marlins are 20-3 in the games Fernandez starts in Miami. His career ERA at Marlins Park rose to 1.19.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: Werth missed 61 games with a broken left wrist. Zimmerman missed 49 games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. To make room for their returns, the Nationals optioned outfielder Matt den Dekker and sent infielder Emmanuel Burriss outright to Triple-A Syracuse.

Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez had season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday. He finishes this season 0-4 with a 6.45 ERA, and hadn't pitched since May 22 after being shut down for a second time in 2015 with what was diagnosed as shoulder inflammation.

CENTURY MARK

Miami is 42-58 after 100 games, the fifth straight year that the Marlins have been below .500 at this point of a season. Only three Marlins teams (37-63 in 1998, 38-62 in 2013 and 39-61 in 1999) have been worse through 100 games. The team opened 42-58 in 1993, its inaugural season.

MUSIC WARS

The Nationals have developed a reputation for playing less-than-peppy tunes at their ballpark when visiting teams take batting practice this season, and the Marlins returned the favor Tuesday. Among the songs that blared as Washington got loose: Shania Twain's ''From This Moment On,'' Whitney Houston's ''I Have Nothing'' and Michael Bolton's ''That's What Love Is All About.''

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Doug Fister (3-6, 4.50) faces Miami on Wednesday. He's 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Marlins.

Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (8-6, 3.16) faces Washington on Wednesday. Koehler has a 2.31 ERA in his last 13 appearances, a 1.62 ERA in his last six.

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