MIAMI (AP) Last year's champions must be content this year with spoiler's role, and Erick Fedde filled it Friday for the Washington Nationals.
Fedde allowed one hit in six innings, and Washington beat rookie Sixto Sanchez and the Miami Marlins 5-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Yan Gomes and Luis Garcia each had two hits and scored twice.
The Marlins, bidding for their first playoff berth since 2003, are in second place in the NL East but have lost three of their past four games, all at home against last-place teams.
That includes the Nationals, staggering to the end of a disappointing season after winning the World Series in 2019.