MIAMI - Giancarlo Stanton spent another night watching the Miami Marlins lose, and he hopes to end the ritual soon.
Last year's NL slugging champion sat out his fourth straight game Monday, and the Marlins sank deeper into last place in the NL East by losing to Washington 10-3.
Stanton has been sidelined with a sore left shoulder, and the sputtering Marlins (2-11) miss him. They've gone nine consecutive games without a home run, tying the franchise record set by the 1993 expansion team, and they're last in the major leagues with 23 runs.
"It's not fun to watch," Stanton said. "I'd rather be participating."
He plans to take batting practice before Tuesday's game and said he might even be back in the lineup, although later in the week is more likely.
Without their slugging right fielder, the Marlins managed only six hits off Jordan Zimmermann, who went the distance for his third victory in as many starts this season.
The Nationals were outscored 18-5 while being swept in a three-game weekend series at home against Atlanta, and they took out any lingering frustration on the Marlins, who came into the game tied for the worst record in the majors.
"It's nice to have success, especially after that series we just came from," said Ian Desmond, who had four of the Nationals' 16 hits. "Jordan did a great job. It seems like we all hit better when Jordan pitches."
Washington has scored 21 runs in Zimmermann's starts, and he's 3-0 for the first time. The nine-inning complete game was his first.
"It means a lot," Zimmermann said. "It means I'm doing my job staying in the game and putting up zeros. It's the kind of pitcher I want to be. I want to be a workhorse and someone who can eat up innings."
The right-hander struck out six, walked one and threw 102 pitches. His only complete game in 83 previous career starts was an eight-inning effort in a 1-0 loss in 2011.
"Jordan was outstanding," manager Davey Johnson said. "He has been outstanding all year."
Zimmermann retired the first 10 batters, and the score was 8-0 before Miami had a baserunner. Ryan Zimmerman hit his first home run and had four RBIs, while Tyler Moore drove in three runs.
The carousel of baserunners for Washington was constant, even though Miami centre fielder Chris Coghlan threw out two of them.
The Nationals' run and hit totals were season highs. They had six extra-base hits, including doubles on three consecutive pitches.
Ballpark personnel tightened security in the wake of the explosions Monday at the Boston Marathon. A moment of silence was observed before the national anthem.
Announced attendance was 15,933, and there were more than a few boos when the score reached 6-0. Coghlan triggered a big roar when he singled in the fourth to become Miami's first baserunner.
Manager Mike Redmond said he saw signs of improvement, especially in the later innings.
"I felt we had much better swings than we've had in the last few days," he said. "Hopefully that's something we can grow on."
The absence of Stanton and Austin Kearns left Redmond down two outfielders. Kearns was unavailable after undergoing tests for an irregular heartbeat.
The Nationals scored four runs in the first inning, when their first six batters reached against Wade LeBlanc (0-3). One of them 鈥� Bryce Harper 鈥� was thrown trying to go from first to third on a single.
Zimmerman singled home the first two runs, and Moore also had a two-run single.
That was more than Zimmermann needed.
"It's a lot easier to pitch when you get runs early in the game," he said.
Miami's starting pitching had been solid despite the team's awful record, but LeBlanc allowed seven runs in 3 2-3 innings.
"That's not a good team to make mistakes against," LeBlanc said.
John Maine relieved LeBlanc in the fourth, and Zimmerman hit the first pitch into the nightclub beyond left field to make it 8-0.
Zimmermann beat LeBlanc for the second time this month, and the Nationals improved to 4-0 against Miami.
NOTES: Washington 2B Danny Espinosa, nursing a bruised right hand, sat out and said he hopes to rejoin the lineup Wednesday or Friday. ... Zimmerman has 19 homers against the Marlins. ... A bright spot for the Marlins: They came into the game batting .174 with runners in scoring position but went 4 for 7 in those situations. ... Washington RHP Dan Haren (1-1) is scheduled to start against RHP Alex Sanabia (1-1) on Tuesday.
