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Washington Nationals’ lineup for the second of three with the Marlins in Miami...

Bryce Harper came up with the big hit in last night’s win over the Marlins, snapping an 0 for 13 streak at the plate in the process. Will the Nationals’ offense wake up in the 2nd of 3 in Miami?

By Patrick Reddington
MLB: Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

While Gio Gonzalez was working on his no-hit bid last night in Miami, Marlins’ right-hander Jose Urena was dealing as well. Urena held Washington’s Nationals to one hit through five innings. Brian Goodwin doubled to start the sixth, however, and scored one out later on an RBI single by Bryce Harper for the only run either team scored in the series opener in Marlins Park.

Harper’s hit snapped an 0 for 13 streak at the plate for the 24-year-old right fielder, who went hitless in the series with the Colorado Rockies with the 0-for in the series opener ending a 19-game hit streak which saw him go 33 for 77 (.429/.506/.896) with seven doubles and nine home runs.

“Urena threw the ball well tonight,” Harper said, “so Gio kept us in it and we were able to get that run for him.”

“Urena was great over there,” Dusty Baker said. “He threw the ball great, so that was a good, crisp ballgame, well-played ballgame, and I’m just glad we came out on the top.”

Harper’s not the only one who has been scuffling at the plate.

Daniel Murphy has been in a bit of a mini-slump as well. His continued with an 0 for 3 night in the opener with the Fish.

So far in July, Murphy is 25 for 81 (.309/.364/.531), with nine doubles and three home runs in 23 games, leaving him with a .330/.383/.564 line, 33 doubles and 17 HRs in 412 PAs on the season.

Harper, Murphy and the Nationals take on Marlins’ lefty Chris O’Grady tonight.

Miami’s starter tossed seven scoreless vs the Cincinnati Reds last time out, and he’ll take the mound with a 3.68 ERA, 12 walks (4.91 BB/9) and 21 Ks (8.59 K/9) in his four starts and 22 IP this season.

Max Scherzer starts for the Nationals tonight, returning to Marlins Park for the first time since he too flirted with a no-hitter against the Fish.

Scherzer lost his no-hit bid in the eighth back on June 21st.

In six starts since that outing, the 32-year-old right-hander is unbeaten at (4-0), with a 2.63 ERA, 12 walks (2.87 BB/9), 56 Ks (13.38 K/9) and a .176/.248/.360 line against over 37 2⁄3 IP.

HERE’S THE NATS’ LINEUP FOR THE SECOND OF THREE WITH THE FISH:

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