Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Alex Sanabia went 6 2/3 scoreless frames to help the Florida Marlins take a 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game set.
Sanabia (4-2) gave up just three hits and three walks with three strikeouts for the Marlins, who snapped a three-game slide. Brad Davis hit a solo home run while Dan Uggla and Wes Helms each drove in a run.
John Lannan (7-7) was tagged for three runs on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings for the Nationals, who have dropped three in a row. Roger Bernadina drove in the lone run.
The last time these teams met on September 1 in Florida, a benches clearing brawl ensued when Florida pitcher Chris Volstad threw a pitch behind Washington center fielder Nyjer Morgan the sixth inning after hitting him with a pitch in the fourth.
Morgan wound up getting suspended eight games for the melee while Volstad was suspended for six games. Morgan appealed his suspension and is still awaiting word from the league for that suspension and another seven-game suspension for a prior incident, while Volstad will start Sunday's game against Washington then serve his suspension.
Several other players from both teams were also handed suspensions due to the brawl and actions that happened later in the game. Florida's Gaby Sanchez dropped his appeal and began his three-game suspension Friday.
Florida struck in the first inning as an RBI single from Uggla was followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Helms for a 2-0 lead.
The Nationals got a leadoff double from Mike Morse in the fifth inning, but he was left stranded there.
Davis led off the seventh with a shot over the left field wall for a 3-0 advantage.
Sanabia got the first two outs of the seventh, but Ivan Rodriguez kept the inning alive with a single and Morgan worked a walk. Jose Veras then took the mound and got pinch-hitter Willie Harris to look at strike three.
Leo Nunez came on for the eighth and got the first two outs, but Ryan Zimmerman kept the inning going with a single. Adam Dunn followed with a ground-rule double and Bernadina's single made it a 3-1 game.
Clay Hensley, though, took over on the hill and got Morse to fly out and end the frame.
Hensley stayed on for the ninth and set Washington down in order to pick up his first career save.
Game Notes
Florida has taken 11 of 16 against Washington this season...Lannan came into the game winning five of his last six starts. He fell to 2-3 in six career starts against Florida...Sanabia is 3-0 over seven appearances on the road this season.