Nats end 0-11 skid, hit 4 home runs to beat Marlins 12-3 in split-squad game

Nationals end 0-11 skid, post 1st exhibition win

VIERA, Fla. — Sure, they’re only exhibition games. But it’s still nice to win — especially for a team that had been 0-for-spring training.

The Washington Nationals, who led the majors last year with 103 losses, ended an 0-11 skid Tuesday with a pair of split-squad victories. They beat the Florida Marlins 12-3 with four home runs, including a grand slam by Willie Harris.

“Today, everything just went well for us,” Harris said. “Everybody pitched well, we hit well in certain situations, we played pretty much good defense. This game was huge for us just to get one (win) over with, see what it feels like and try to build for that.”

Bench coach John McLaren, who guided the Nationals while manager Jim Riggleman led the split squad that beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2, was relieved after a two-week slump in spring training play.

“We’re not trying to win the Grapefruit League. … Our drills have been good and we’ve had nothing to show it,” McLaren said. “It’s a good feeling to do things right and see the guys smile. They’ve been doing their jobs every day. I really think the staff will sleep better than anybody because (the losing streak) was creating kind of a monster.”

Harris’ eighth-inning shot off Taylor Tankersley was the last in a series of no-doubt-about it home runs hit by Washington, which had connected only nine previous times this spring.

Kevin Mench hit a two-run drive and pinch-hitter Cristian Guzman added a three-run shot in a six-run second inning against Marlins starter Rick VandenHurk, who allowed his first runs in three spring appearances.

Ryan Zimmerman hit his team-high third homer off Hayden Penn in the seventh.

“When you get good pitching and the good hitting’s right there with it, we’re going to be fine. We’re going to be right where we need to be by opening day,” Harris said.

Craig Stammen allowed three hits and two unearned runs in four innings. Coming off September surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow, he isn’t sure whether he’ll earn a spot in the rotation or work out of the bullpen.

“Whether they stretch me out or not, I’ll get my work in,” said Stammen, who walked one and struck out four. “I think if I go to the bullpen, I’ll probably be the long guy anyway. I’ll still need to have my innings build up where I can three or four innings. … Whatever they decide, I’ll go along with and be happy about.”

VandenHurk hadn’t been scored on in two previous spring outings before giving up six straight hits to open the third. He gave up six runs on nine hits.

“My fastball was more up and I was getting underneath my pitches instead of finishing them and staying through it,” he said. “That’s why I made mistakes. I was getting ahead 0-2 … and when I tried to finish them off, I left it over the plate, which can happen. I think they did a great job of punishing me on that.”

Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn left the game after two innings with a lower back spasm. Dunn made an error when he bobbled Logan Morrison’s grounder in the hole and hurt himself reaching for the ball.

Though listed as day to day, Dunn said he expected to play Wednesday against Houston in Kissimmee.

“It felt like a cramp in my back. … It’s fine, I’ll be there tomorrow,” Dunn said.

Florida lost right-handed reliever Derrick Turnbow in the eighth. He walked Pete Orr, threw a wild pitch and hit Danny Espinosa without recording an out, and left because of severe shoulder pain.

The 32-year-old Turnbow, a former Milwaukee closer, is trying to come back from shoulder problems who has not pitched in the majors since 2008.

“Hopefully it’s nothing serious,” he said. “In any case, I’m sure I’ll be shut down for a while. My chances of making the big league team are over.”

Turnbow will be re-evaluated Wednesday and said he may need surgery.

NOTES: Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan has a strained left hamstring and may not be available until Friday. Morgan hurt himself in his last at-bat Sunday. … Florida OF Cameron Maybin ran the bases in Jupiter on Tuesday and may play Wednesday, manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Maybin has been out since March 7 with a left groin strain. … OF Michael Stanton, originally scheduled to travel to Viera, remained at the Marlins complex in Jupiter with some minor soreness in left elbow. … Florida will make another round of cuts Wednesday, Gonzalez said.