Marlins rule Nats 4-2
Ricky Nolasco retired the final 13 batters he faced, Emilio Bonifacio drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth and the Florida Marlins stayed perfect against the Washington Nationals with a 3-2 victory Monday night.
Hanley Ramirez had three hits and an RBI for Florida, which snapped a three-game slide and is 7-0 against Washington this season. Nolasco (5-6) won his third straight start, going eight innings and yielding four hits and two runs with eight strikeouts.
Josh Willingham had two hits and Ryan Zimmerman hit his 13th homer for Washington, which wasted a stellar effort from left-hander Scott Olsen in his return from the disabled list.
Pinch-hitter Wes Helms hit a leadoff double just inside the first-base bag off Ron Villone (3-5) in the eighth. After a sacrifice by Chris Coghlan, Bonifacio’s fly ball to center scored pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza without a throw.
The Marlins scored an insurance run later in the eighth, when Cody Ross drew a bases-loaded walk from Julian Tavarez.
Leo Nunez got the final out for his third save in six chances.