WASHINGTON -- Giancarlo Stanton admitted he primarily got by on his athleticism during his first seven seasons in the pros. This year, the Marlins' slugger became a student of the game and he's teaching opposing pitchers one long ball lesson after another.
Stanton hit his career-high and major league-leading 38th home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 7-3 on Tuesday night. He crushed a first-pitch fastball from A.J. Cole (1-2) deep into the center-field stands in the fifth for a 4-1 lead following singles by Miguel Rojas and Dee Gordon.
The right fielder has five home runs and nine RBI with a .368 (7 for 19) batting average five games into a seven-game road trip.
"You get used to it now," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "(Stanton) gets one a day for sure. Then we hope for another."
Derek Dietrich also homered and drove in three runs for the Marlins, who scored seven runs on six hits. Gordon's RBI double and Dietrich's two-run single put Miami up 7-1 in the seventh.
Bryce Harper went hitless but drove in two runs for Washington. Miami, 53-58 overall, leads the season series with the NL East leaders 6-5.
Stanton's hit 37 home runs in 2012 and 2014. He's topped that with 51 games remaining this season thanks to a healthy season and avoiding prolonged slumps.
"Being a better baseball player. Not being an athlete getting away with performance. Understanding baseball, understanding the grind of it," Stanton said of stepped up performance. "How to get through with singles, walks, do something to not get into that slump."
Slumps haven't been an issue against the Nationals. Stanton has 31 home runs all-time against Washington and his 18 at Nationals Park are the most by any visiting player.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is second to Stanton in homers this season with 35.
Vance Worley (2-2) thwarted the Nationals for the second time in nine days. He allowed one run on six hits over six innings after holding Washington to two hits during seven shutout frames in Miami's 7-0 win on July 31.
"Not too bad," a nonchalant Worley said of his recent work against Washington. "I knew they were going to be aggressive again. I think we handled the lineup fairly well. Defense again picked me up and the bats were alive for me again."
The Nationals left nine runners on base and hit into two double plays.
"Those double plays were haunting us tonight," manager Dusty Baker said. "We couldn't find any holes at the right time."
Worley and Cole faced off Wednesday in Miami with Cole surrendering five runs in five innings. He fared better in the rematch, but the result remained the same. Cole held Miami without a hit for 3 2/3 innings until Dietrich's homer. Stanton's came an inning later.
"The pitch I threw wasn't a bad pitch but the other two at bats I threw to (Stanton) the same spot and he kind of sits on it," said Cole, who allowed four runs in five innings with five strikeouts.
Harper knocked in runs with a third-inning grounder and sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Adrian Sanchez had three hits including an RBI single off Dustin McGowan during Washington's two-run seventh inning, but he was doubled off first base following Ichiro Suzuki's sliding catch in left field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Miami placed LHP Chris O'Grady on the 10-day DL with a strained right oblique and recalled RHP Javy Guerra from AAA-New Orleans. O'Grady (2-1, 5.47 ERA) started Monday's game, but was pulled in the second inning and had an MRI Tuesday.
Nationals: 2B Daniel Murphy was out of the starting lineup with a sore hip, Baker said, though the All-Star pinch-hit in the ninth. "He's been playing a lot and so we thought it'd be better for us to skip a day and we'll see how he is tomorrow," Baker said. . Baker is dealing with his own injury. He didn't leave the dugout for any pitching changes after his knee locked up on him. . Baker is hopeful INF Howie Kendrick (back stiffness) can return to the lineup Wednesday after being pulled in Monday's win.
ZIPPY FOR ZIMMERMAN
All-Star Ryan Zimmerman grounded into an inning-ending double play with two runners on in the fifth. The All-Star finished 0 for 4 and is batting .076 (2 for 27) since July 31.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (4-4, 5.10) is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts against Washington.
Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-5, 2.66) held the Marlins hitless through eight innings and finished with a one-hit shutout in Washington's 1-0 on July 31.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball



Final
Series: Game 2 of 4

Marlins 7

(53-58, 26-30 away)

Nationals 3

(66-45, 30-23 home)





7:05PM,EDT,August 8,2017
Nationals Park, Washington,D.C. 

123456789 R H E
MIA 000130300 7 7 1
WSH 001000200 3 11 0
W: V. Worley (2-2)
L: A. Cole (1-2)






View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Miami - Top of 1stSCORE
A.J. Cole pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Gordon struck out swinging.00
Stanton struck out swinging.00
Yelich grounded out to shortstop.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Goodwin grounded out to second.00
Sánchez singled to center.00
Harper walked, Sánchez to second.00
Zimmerman struck out swinging. Sánchez caught stealing third, catcher to third.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 2ndSCORE
A.J. Cole pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Realmuto grounded out to third.00
Dietrich struck out swinging.00
Telis hit by pitch.00
Suzuki flied out to center.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Lind lined out to center.00
Rendon flied out to right.00
Difo walked.00
Difo stole second.00
Lobatón safe at first on throwing error by shortstop Rojas, Difo to third.00
Cole grounded out to catcher.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors
Miami - Top of 3rdSCORE
A.J. Cole pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Rojas grounded out to third.00
Worley grounded out to shortstop.00
Gordon reached on infield single to second.00
Stanton popped out to second.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Goodwin doubled to deep left.00
Sánchez sacrificed to third, Goodwin to third.00
Harper grounded out to second, Goodwin scored.01
Zimmerman lined out to first.01
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 4thSCORE
A.J. Cole pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Yelich grounded out to second.01
Realmuto struck out swinging.01
Dietrich homered to right.11
Telis walked.11
Suzuki grounded out to second.11
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Lind lined out to left.11
Rendon struck out swinging.11
Difo singled to center.11
Lobatón singled to center, Difo to third.11
Cole fouled out to right.11
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 5thSCORE
A.J. Cole pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Rojas singled to right.11
Worley sacrificed to pitcher, Rojas to second.11
Gordon singled to left, Rojas to third.11
Stanton homered to center, Rojas and Gordon scored.41
Yelich struck out swinging.41
Realmuto popped out to second.41
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Goodwin popped out to shortstop.41
Sánchez doubled to center.41
Harper walked.41
Zimmerman grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Harper out at second.41
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 6thSCORE
Sammy Solis pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Solís relieved Cole.41
Dietrich lined out to shortstop.41
Telis popped out to first.41
Suzuki grounded out to shortstop.41
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Vance Worley pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Lind singled to right.41
Rendon flied out to center.41
Difo flied out to center.41
Lobatón grounded out to second.41
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 7thSCORE
Sammy Solis pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Rojas walked.41
Moore hit for Worley.41
Blanton relieved Solís.41
Moore popped out to second.41
Gordon doubled to left, Rojas scored.51
Stanton intentionally walked.51
Pérez relieved Blanton.51
Yelich fouled out to third.51
Realmuto hit by pitch, Gordon to third, Stanton to second.51
Dietrich singled to right center, Gordon and Stanton scored, Realmuto to third.71
Telis flied out to right.71
3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Dustin McGowan pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Moore at first base.71
McGowan relieved Worley.71
Stevenson hit for Pérez.71
Stevenson singled to left center.71
Goodwin doubled to deep right, Stevenson to third.71
Sánchez singled to left center, Stevenson scored, Goodwin to third.72
Harper hit sacrifice fly to center, Goodwin scored.73
Zimmerman lined into double play, left to shortstop to first, Sánchez doubled off first.73
2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 8thSCORE
Matt Albers pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Albers relieved Pérez.73
Suzuki lined out to second.73
Rojas struck out swinging.73
Moore flied out to left.73
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Drew Steckenrider pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Steckenrider relieved McGowan.73
Lind singled to right.73
Rendon struck out swinging.73
Difo flied out to left.73
Lobatón struck out swinging.73
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Miami - Top of 9thSCORE
Matt Albers pitching for WashingtonMIAWSH
Gordon grounded out to second.73
Stanton struck out looking.73
Yelich walked.73
Realmuto struck out swinging.73
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Washington - Bottom of 9thSCORE
Brad Ziegler pitching for MiamiMIAWSH
Ziegler relieved Steckenrider.73
Murphy hit for Albers.73
Murphy lined out to shortstop.73
Goodwin singled to right.73
Sánchez lined out to right.73
Harper grounded into fielder's choice to third, Goodwin out at second.73
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors




Miami Marlins
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Gordon 2B52310120.298.340.363
Stanton RF42131213.277.370.615
Yelich CF40001124.278.363.431
Realmuto C40000221.299.360.478
Dietrich 3B41230120.246.320.409
Telis 1B20001018.172.219.310
0000000.000.000.000
0000000.000.000.000
0000000.000.000.000
Suzuki LF40000014.226.293.299
Rojas SS32101118.298.363.347
Worley P1000007.182.182.182
a-Moore PH-1B
2000004.222.257.429
Totals3377748159   
a-popped out to second for V Worley in the 7th
BATTING
2B: Gordon (16, Blanton)
HR: Dietrich (7, 4th inning off Cole 0 on, 2 Out); Stanton (38, 5th inning off Cole 2 on, 1 Out)
RBI: Dietrich 3 (36), Stanton 3 (83), Gordon (24)
S: Worley
2-out RBI: Dietrich 3
Marlins RISP: 3-5 (Dietrich 1-1, Telis 0-1, Stanton 1-1, Gordon 1-1, Yelich 0-1)
Team LOB: 6
FIELDING
E: Rojas (5, throw)
DP: 3 (Realmuto-Dietrich, Rojas-Gordon-Telis, Suzuki-Rojas-Moore).
Outfield Assist: Suzuki (Sánchez at 1st base).

Game Information

StadiumNationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Attendance25,406 (61.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time3:07
Weather80 degrees, clear
Wind4 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Manny Gonzalez, First Base - Ryan Additon, Second Base - CB Bucknor, Third Base - Fieldin Culbreth