MIAMI — Jose Fernandez allowed one hit and struck out nine in seven innings to lead the Miami Marlins to a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs for the Marlins and Logan Morrison hit an estimated 484-foot home run, which would be the longest in the majors this season, and drove in two runs.
Fernandez (11-6) retired the first 14 batters before walking Adam LaRoche. He didn’t allow a hit until the sixth with one out when pinch-hitter Zach Walters hit a dribbler up the third-base line for a base hit in his first big league at-bat. Third baseman Placido Polanco didn’t have a play on the slow roller and was hoping it would roll foul, but the ball stayed on the infield grass.
Fernandez went 2 for 3 at the plate and Chris Coghlan had three of the Marlins’ 13 hits.
Fernandez, who lowered his ERA to 2.23, is expected to have one more start on Wednesday at home against Atlanta before he is shut down for the season. The 21-year old has a 170-inning limit placed on him and he has thrown 165 2/3 innings.
Stanton hit a two-run single in the first inning and Placido Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to give Miami an early 3-0 lead against Dan Haren (8-13).
Stanton walked in the third and scored on a two-run home run by Morrison to deep right-center field for a 5-0 lead.
Haren lasted just three innings and allowed five runs and six hits. He was coming off another short outing as he pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs in a loss to the New York Mets on Aug. 31.
Stanton’s home run in the eighth completed the scoring.
NOTES: Fernandez is 8-0 with a 1.19 ERA in 14 starts at home. … Nationals CF Denard Span, who is on a 17-game hitting streak, was a late scratch to the lineup with tightness in his groin. LHP Ross Detwiler will throw a bullpen session over the weekend with hopes of returning at some point this season. … Washington RHP Tanner Roark (4-0, 1.19 ERA) will take the mound on Saturday and face Miami RHP Nathan Eovaldi (3-5, 3.40 ERA).
Please read our comment policy before commenting.