Tom Koehler sharp into 7th but Marlins fall to Nationals
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marlins manager Don Mattingly sent Tom Koehler out for the beginning of the seventh inning, then chose to intentionally walk the bases loaded with his bullpen.
This time, neither choice worked.
Jayson Werth hit an RBI single off Edwin Jackson for his first hit of the season, keying a three-run seventh that helped send Miami to a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
`We fought all day," said Koehler, who allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings. "Just didn't have enough."
Clint Robinson completed Washington's rally with a two-out, two run single off Jackson, forcing Miami to settle for a two-game series split after Saturday's game was postponed because of cold weather.
Christian Yelich hit his first homer of the season off Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon, who still earned his third save.
Dee Gordon tripled and scored early for the Marlins off Joe Ross, his only run allowed over seven innings.
Bryce Harper hit the 99th and 100th doubles of his career and drove in Washington's first run. Anthony Rendon went 3 for 5 with a double and scored twice.
"He's a guy that we know is tough and he sits in a good spot with Bryce behind him," Mattingly said of Rendon. "He did a nice job of getting on base all day long."
Koehler had thrown 101 pitches when Mattingly removed him, his last a one-out single that was Rendon's third hit and would bring the left-handed Harper to the plate.
Mattingly said after the game he thought Koehler had "plenty left" to face the first two batters of the inning.
"When he got to Harper, we're not going to let him do that," Mattingly said.
Harper doubled off reliever Chris Narveson to send Rendon to third, and after an intentional walk of left-hander Daniel Murphy, Werth came to the plate against righty Edwin Jackson looking to end an 0-for-13 start to the season.
Werth worked the count even after falling behind 0-2, then got enough of Jackson's fastball to send it into shallow right-center and put the Nationals ahead.
Robinson followed with a two-run single to complete Washington's rally.
"You try to come in and you try to make a pitch," Jackson said. "It's not a situation where you can be too perfect. I was able to get to two strikes on hitters, I just couldn't put them away. They battled."
QUOTABLE
"One of the best ballplayers of all time. Very highly intelligent man. Great vision. And, you know, better with kids than adults." -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker, when asked to describe Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds.
TRAINERS' ROOM
LHP Wei-Yin Chen threw a bullpen session Sunday and "Everything felt sharp," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Chen was hit in his left elbow by a batted ball in his first start. He could start Wednesday or Friday, Mattingly said.
UP NEXT
Jarred Cosart will start Monday as the Marlins begin a three-game series at the New York Mets. Cosart had been available in relief Sunday if needed, Mattingly said.
