Marlins’ bats can’t back Chen in loss to Nats

WASHINGTON — With the Dodgers having lost to the Giants on Saturday, the Nationals didn’t have to win to clinch home-field advantage in the National League Division Series. But behind Tanner Roark and Trea Turner, Washington earned a 2-1 victory over the Marlins at Nationals Park.

“It’s definitely huge,” Roark said. “These guys fight day in and day out, and we wanted to get home-field advantage, and we got it.”

The Nationals seized the lead quickly on Bryce Harper’s RBI single in the first inning, then added a run when Turner homered in the fifth. Miami threatened throughout the early innings but couldn’t break through against Roark. The Marlins pushed across a run in the sixth before Washington’s bullpen shut it down over the final three frames, with Mark Melancon securing a four-out save.

Melancon hasn’t typically entered in the eighth inning — with the Nationals or with his former team, the Pirates — but manager Dusty Baker used the outing to prep his closer for the postseason.

“I keep the same mindset,” Melancon said. “You’re sitting out a half-inning, so your body’s got to get used to that and get warmed back up. There’s a little difference, but nothing that I can’t handle.”

Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen was solid over five innings, striking out five but allowing six hits, including two to Turner. Chris Johnson drove in Miami’s lone run with a single in the sixth inning.

“I thought Wei-Yin threw the ball good today. Had velocity today, I thought that was good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We weren’t able to do a whole lot to score runs. We had some chances early.”

With the loss, the Marlins (79-81) clinched their seventh straight sub-.500 season. The Marlins will play 161 games this season, because their Sept. 25 contest against the Braves was cancelled due to the death of All-Star pitcher Jose Fernandez.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDRoark finishes strong: The right-hander has been an unsung hero all season as he earned his career-high 16th victory. Roark allowed only three hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings. He struggled slightly with his command, walking four, but pitched out of jams in the first three innings. After a rough 2015 season in …

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