Nats hold on after Ross’ exit in Miami

MIAMI — A blister may have cut short Joe Ross’ outing after two innings, but not much is slowing down Bryce Harper and the Nationals’ offense lately. Harper laced an RBI double, and Michael Taylor delivered a solo home run on Wednesday night in a 3-1 win over Miami at Marlins Park.

Ross didn’t get a chance to qualify for the win because he didn’t work the necessary five innings due to a blister on his right middle finger. After leading off the third inning and drawing a walk, he scored on Harper’s double. Ross was replaced by Yusmeiro Petit, who allowed just a Derek Dietrich home run in four innings of relief.

• Ross exits with blister

Marlins lefty Wei-Yin Chen scattered six hits and struck out seven, but he was victimized by two walks, which both led to runs, and Taylor’s two-out homer in the fifth.

“They kind of got [Chen] one at a time,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They just kind of scratched him for a couple. He pitched good. We’ve got to put something together for them.”

The Nationals have now won two straight after the Marlins claimed the four-game series opener on Monday. Miami is 1-7 at Marlins Park.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDInjury bug strikes:  With the exception of outfielder Ben Revere, the Nationals had nearly escaped the injury bug that plagued them for much of last season — until they lost two key players during Wednesday night’s game. First, a blister forced Ross to an early exit in the third, then Jayson Werth was replaced in left field in the fifth. More >

Getting through seven: It took 13 games, but finally a Miami starter has logged as many as seven innings. Chen made it through the elusive seventh on …

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