MIAMI -AP- Vance Worley pitched seven innings and faced the minimum number of batters to earn his first victory since May 2016, helping the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 7-0 on Wednesday.Worley (1-2) allowed only two hits, and both baserunners were erased on double play grounders hit by Bryce Harper. Worley lowered his ERA from 6.42 to 5.31 while facing the highest-scoring team in the National League.Dee Gordon tripled, singled twice, scored three times, drove in a run, stole two bases and made an acrobatic defensive play. Gordon extended his hitting streak to 13 games, matching his career high.
Teammates Christian Yelich and Derek Dietrich hit two-run homers. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton leaped at the wall to rob Brian Goodwin of a home run for the final out to preserve a four-hit shutout.
By taking the rubber game of the three-game set, the Marlins have won four consecutive series for the first time since late 2015. They're still 12 games behind the NL East-leading Nationals, however.Worley, making his sixth start of the season, retired the final 11 batters he faced in his longest outing in more than a year. Second baseman Gordon and center fielder Christian Yelich helped Worley with terrific plays.Washington's A.J. Cole (1-1), recalled from Triple-A to make his second start of the year, allowed five runs in six innings.Harper went 0 for 3, ending his 12-game hitting streak. Washington totaled only seven runs in the series against Miami's injury-ravaged pitching staff.Newly acquired reliever Brandon Kintzler made his Nationals debut and retired all four batters he faced with two strikeouts.
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