MIAMI — Miami Marlins right-hander Mat Latos wasn’t too concerned Friday night about getting his first win. He just wanted to pitch past the first inning.
Bouncing back from a dismal start in Miami earlier this season, Latos went 6 1/3 innings to help the revitalized Marlins beat the Washington Nationals, 3-2.
Martin Prado broke a tie with an eighth-inning single, and Latos and three relievers combined on a six-hitter.
Latos didn’t get the decision, but the outing was a big improvement over his other start this year at Marlins Park, when he lasted just two-thirds of an inning and gave up seven runs.
“Coming back here after that embarrassment, there was a lot of emotion running through that first inning,” Latos said. ” Every other inning seemed easier after that.”
Like Latos, the Marlins are bouncing back. They won their third game in a row after a 3-11 start.
“We’re playing better baseball,” Prado said. “That’s what everybody was expecting with this team.”
The win came at the start of a nine-game homestand. The Nationals, beginning a 10-game trip, lost their third consecutive game.
With the score 2-2, Adeiny Hechavarria doubled to start the eighth against Tanner Roark (0-2) and advanced on an infield single by Dee Gordon. Prado followed with a single off Aaron Barrett.
Prado also made a diving stop of a sharp grounder at third base to rob Yunel Escobar of a hit leading off the ninth.
Latos, acquired by Miami in the offseason, had his best outing yet. The tall right-hander allowed two runs to lower his ERA to 7.31.
“He was battling the whole time,” Prado said. “To see him work so hard like that, it’s contagious. That’s what we’re expecting from him.”
Latos, a .118 career batter, also hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth for Miami’s first run.
“Accidental,” he said. “Swing hard in case you hit it.”
Bryan Morris (2-0) pitched around two walks in a scoreless eighth. Steve Cishek followed with a perfect ninth for his first save. He had 39 last year.
Jordan Zimmermann, who no-hit the Marlins the last time he faced them on the final day of the 2014 regular season, allowed six hits and two runs in six innings.
Bryce Harper drove in Washington’s runs with a sacrifice fly and a two-out single, but the Nationals went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Six of their 10 losses this season have been by one or two runs.
“It’s not fun, especially in dogfights like that,” Harper said. “Jordan threw such a great game, he should have been able to win that game. It’s rough for us, but we’ll keep plugging.”
Washington took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Ian Desmond doubled, went to third on a flyout and came home on Harper’s sac fly. Harper hit an RBI single in the sixth to make it 2-2.
Miami scored twice in the fifth on four consecutive two-out singles, including RBI hits by Latos and Gordon.
Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer is expected to make his next start as scheduled even though he jammed his pitching hand while batting Sunday.
“His thumb is a little swollen,” manager Matt Williams said. “All indications are that he should be all right. Needless to say, he won’t be hitting in between starts.”
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