MIAMI — Stephen Strasburg matched his season-high with 11 strikeouts and Bryce Harper tied a career-high with five walks as the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 Tuesday night.
Anthony Rendon drove in two runs for the Nationals (77-75), who entered Tuesday’s game 7 ½ games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and 7 games back in the race for the final wild card spot.
Strasburg (9-7) pitched six innings and allowed two runs and five hits with two walks. At one point, he struck out six consecutive batters.
Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities.
Peter O’Brien hit his third home run of the season and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and knocked in a run for the Marlins.
Adam Eaton and Trea Turner had consecutive RBI singles in the second inning to give the Nationals an early lead.
O’Brien’s solo homer off Strasburg cut the Marlins’ deficit to 2-1.
Rendon’s sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 3-1, but Realmuto pulled Miami within 3-2 with a base hit in the fifth.
Rendon’s single in the sixth pushed Washington’s advantage to 4-2.
Sandy Alcantara pitched four innings for the Marlins and allowed six hits, six walks, and three runs.
Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer (17-7, 2.53 ERA) will begin a four-game series against the New York Mets on Thursday.
Marlins right-hander Jeff Brigham (0-2, 7.36) will take the mound on Thursday when Miami begins the final home series of the season, a four-game set against Cincinnati.
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