Hanley Ramirez leads Marlins to 7-5 win over Nationals in rain-shortened game

Ramirez leads Marlins to wet win over Nationals

MIAMI — Hanley Ramirez homered and drove in four runs, and the Florida Marlins erased a four-run deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-5 Tuesday night in a game that was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

Ramirez’s two-run single in the seventh put the Marlins ahead 6-5. Jorge Cantu followed with an RBI single moments before play was stopped, and Washington never got another chance to bat.

Florida took advantage of three errors by Ryan Zimmerman, normally a slick fielder at third base. Adam Dunn homered and drove in three runs for the Nationals, who dropped to 0-8 against Florida this year.

The Marlins have won nine straight meetings dating to last season.

Ramirez set a franchise record by driving in at least one run for the ninth consecutive game. He has 21 RBIs during the stretch.

Florida trailed 5-4 heading into the pivotal seventh. Cody Ross walked leading off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice. Zimmerman’s third error allowed Ross Gload to reach safely. Chris Coghlan walked and, with two outs, Ramirez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.

Facing lefty Joe Beimel (0-4), Ramirez delivered a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Cantu’s single made it 7-5.

Brett Carroll followed and the count was 2-2 when umpires signaled for the tarp. The game was called after a delay of 1 hour, 29 minutes.

Renyel Pinto (3-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless inning in relief.

The Nationals led 1-0 on an RBI double by Dunn off starter Sean West in the first that scored Zimmerman.

Florida responded with a run in the bottom half. Zimmerman bobbled a grounder by Ramirez and then overthrew first base, allowing Emilio Bonifacio to score from second. Zimmerman was charged with two errors on the play.

In the fourth, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out for pitcher Craig Stammen, who knocked in two runs with a single to center for a 3-1 edge.

Dunn added a two-run homer, his 20th of the season, to right field in the fifth.

The Marlins answered in the sixth. Alejandro De Aza scored on a wild pitch and, with a runner on, Ramirez hit his 13th home run to right field to pull Florida to 5-4.

NOTES: Before the game, the Nationals traded RHP Joel Hanrahan and OF Lastings Milledge to the Pirates for LHP Sean Burnett and OF Nyjer Morgan. Dunn is two homers shy of 300.