Miami Marlins Game Recap: Bryce Harper Homers Nats Past Marlins

May 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) is congratulated by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins came into this game positioned to win the series after taking game 2 of the 3 game series. Unforunately, Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer had other plans.

A Max Scherzer-Tom Koehler matchup went exactly as you’d expect it to go. Scherzer got off to a slow start, but once he got locked in, he was able to dominate the Marlins lineup. Koehler struggled in this one, especially against Bryce Harper, who went deep three times off the Marlins right hander.

Harper’s three home runs came in the 2nd inning, to cut the Marlins lead to 2-1, in the 3rd to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead, and in the fifth to extend the Nationals lead to 5-2. It was Harper’s first three home run game of his career.

On the season, Harper now owns a .268/.419/.567 slash line with a 166 wRC+ and 8 home runs. Those are MVP numbers from a 22-year that’s always had lofty expectations.

The Miami Marlins got on the board in the top half of the second inning, collecting four straight hits, including a J.T. Realmuto double, to score two runs. Koehler grounded into a huge double play to help Scherzer escape the inning without further damage.

Three straight one out hits and a Harper ground out extended the Nats lead to 7-2 over the Marlins. Fortunately, Sam Dyson and the Marlins kept Harper from leaving the park for a 4th time.

Scherzer struck out 10 Marlins in his 7 innings of work. He surrendered two hits on seven hits and did not walk a single batter.

To start the 8th, already at 102 pitches, he surrendered singles to Dee Gordon and Martin Prado, before giving up a 3-run bomb to Giancarlo Stanton, to make the score 7-5.

Tanner Roark was able to retire Ichiro Suzuki on a strikeout and Adeiny Hechavarria on a groundout, with runners on first and second with one out to get himself out of a jam he fell into taking over for Scherzer.

Drew Storen came onto close the 9th inning, but got off to a shaky start, hitting Donovan Solano and allowing a single to Dee Gordon with zero outs. Storen then got Prado to pop out and struck out both Stanton and Marcell Ozuna to clinch the game.

The Washington Nationals take two of three from the Miami Marlins. Marlins fall to 13-15.

Now on to our grades.

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