Dein erstes Forum » threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session

MIAMI -- The postgame scene in the Washington Nationals clubhouse included a smoke machine, strobe lights and blaring music, which created an atmosphere akin to a South Beach nightclub. Fake Bulls Jerseys . Following a woeful weekend, the Nationals had something to celebrate Monday. Jordan Zimmermann became the first starter to pitch seven innings this season for the Nationals, and they totalled 11 extra-base hits to beat the slumping Miami Marlins 9-2. The rout came after the Nationals were swept in a three-game series at Atlanta. "That was a tough weekend, but they responded," manager Matt Williams said. "They came out today and played hard." The Marlins endured their eighth loss in a row. "The only way we can get out of this thing is somebody needs to step up, go out there and say, Its over, Im done with it," manager Mike Redmond said. "We either need a big pitching performance or a big hit or a big play to spark us to get us going. Those guys understand that, and hopefully it will come Tuesday." Bryce Harper had two doubles and an RBI triple for Washington. He has batted .520 over his past seven games to boost his average to .348. Harper came out of the game as a precaution in seventh inning after he slipped running the bases. He said he has been nursing a sore thigh muscle. "It has been tight since Friday, but nothing too serious," Harper said. "Im ready to go Tuesday." Catcher Sandy Leon hit his first career home run, while Tyler Moore also homered and had an RBI single. Anthony Rendon drove in three runs with a double and a triple, and Danny Espinosa doubled and tripled. "It was a fun night," Moore said in the smoke-filled clubhouse. "We needed that after three tough losses in a row. Were just trying to turn the page. We swung the bats good, and Jordan pitched great." Zimmermann (1-0) bounced back from the shortest start of his career. After lasting only 1 2-3 innings when he gave up five runs against Miami last week, he lowered his ERA from 8.10 to 5.27, allowing two runs while striking out seven. "It was a lot better today," he said. "I was getting ahead with the fastball. When Im able to get ahead, I can throw everything else where I want and when I want. When I fall behind, thats when I run into trouble." The right-hander gave up a homer to Garrett Jones but tied the Nationals record of 44 career victories set by Livan Hernandez. Zimmermann also had two of the Nationals season-high 16 hits. "A lot of guys on our team are swinging it well," Harper said. "Its contagious. Everybody is hitting it. It goes one through eight -- even one through nine." The Nationals improved to 4-0 this year against the Marlins and have outscored them 31-10. Washington started fast against Brad Hand after being swept in a three-game series at Atlanta last weekend. Jayson Werth missed a home run by inches when he doubled off the top of the wall with two out in the first, and Harper followed with an RBI single. Moore skipped a ball off the top of the wall into the Marlins bullpen for a homer in the second. Rendon hit a two-run double later in the inning to make it 4-0. Hand (0-1) fell to 1-11 in his career as a starter. He lasted only three innings while allowing five runs and five extra-base hits. Things are going so bad for the Marlins they brought in closer Steve Cishek trailing by seven runs in the ninth because he needed the work. It likely wont get any easier for the Marlins on Tuesday, when they face Stephen Strasburg. He beat them last week and began this week leading the NL in strikeouts. NOTES: Nationals RHP Doug Fister (back muscle) threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session and said he felt good afterward. The next step for him is a simulated game. ... Nationals OF Nate McLouth missed his second start in a row because of a sore left knee. ... With a left-hander pitching for Miami, 1B Adam LaRoche sat out for the first time this season. ... Marlins OF Marcell Ozuna was held out of the starting lineup after bruising his foot when he fouled a ball off it Sunday. ... INF Rafael Furcal (hamstring) began a rehabilitation assignment Monday that is expected to last three weeks, meaning he wont join the Marlins until early May. ... Marlins 1B Garrett Jones is a fan of pro wrestling, and his new theme song when he bats is a tune used by The Ultimate Warrior, who died last week. Chicago Bulls Gear . “The fact that he was willing to do the deal the way we wanted it to be done showed that he wanted me to be a part of something great," Lowry said, noting that Ujiri willingness to sign off on the proposal that both Lowry and his agent presented to the GM was the final straw that convinced him to return. Chicago Bulls Store . Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 after opening with a 77 -- his worst score of the season -- on TPC San Antonios AT&T Oaks Course. Lefty was 11 strokes behind leader Steven Bowditch, the Australian who had a 67 to reach 8-under 136. https://www.cheapbulls.com/ . It all would have been for naught, however, had it not been for some clutch shooting in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and a couple of equally critical hustle plays by Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol in the final minutes. BOSTON -- Things were bouncing right for Milan Lucic and the Boston Bruins. Lucic scored a pair of goals and Patrice Bergeron added another, lifting the surging Bruins to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. "Its nice to have some puck luck," said Lucic, who said both goals hit a Blue Jackets player and changed direction en route to the net. The rugged Boston winger, who also had a fight in the second period, even thought linemate Jarome Iginla may have scored the second one. "I thought Iggie may have gotten it," he said. "But its nice to get two goals and my first power-play goal of the season." Lucic hadnt scored a goal in his past six games after getting off to a fast start with nine. Boston coach Claude Julien felt the winger just needed to relax and things would start to turn his way. "I thought maybe he was gripping the stick a little tight in certain areas," Julien said. "I just told him to go out and play. I liked his game a lot tonight." David Krejci added two assists for Eastern Conference-leading Boston, which is 10-2-2 in its past 14 games. Bostons Chad Johnson needed only 13 saves for the win in just his fifth start. No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask was given the night off. Johnson knew it was an easy night. "The first period I didnt face many shots and in the second not many high-quality chances," he said. "Its tough to get into it, but Ive had some good practices lately." The Bruins havent lost at home in regulation in 11 games (9-0-2). Boston has won all three meetings between the teams this season. Ryan Johansen scored a power-play goal for the Blue Jackets, who were outshot 36-14. Backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney stopped 33 shots for Columbus, which lost for the 12th time in 17 games. The Blue Jackets havent won consecutive games since late October. "Its definitely frustrating. I think some night that we have lost the effort wasnt there," winger Matt Calvert said. "But I thought tonight we worked hard, we did a lot of good things. "But, once again, against a good team like this, youve got to find a way to win. Its always a tough building to come into, but we didnt find a way tonight and were going to keep on searching for it." Boston jumped ahead 1-0 when Bergeron scored on a tough-angle shot at 9:02 of the first. He fired onne from near the right boards and the puck slipped behind McElhinney as Boston winger Loui Eriksson was cutting in front. Chicago Bulls Shirts. The Bruins made it 2-0 on Lucics power-play goal with just over 5 minutes left in the first. Torey Krug fired a shot from the left point and Lucic, positioned in front, tipped it by McElhinney. Lucics second goal of the game made it 3-0 just over 2 minutes into the third. He fired a shot from the high slot and the puck popped into the air after McElhinneys stop and bounced into the net behind him just as Iginla was ready to bat it in. Johansens team-leading 10th goal came on a wrister from the top of right circle with just under 14 minutes left. Coming off a 4-2 win over Edmonton at home on Friday night, the Blue Jackets had trouble generating much offence. The Blue Jackets were outshot 9-2 in the first and it didnt get much better for them in the second. They were held to three shots on goal for nearly half of the period until a power play gave them a brief spark. "Not enough (shots) and not enough quality ones either," forward RJ Umberger said. "Weve got to find a way to generate more." Possibly looking to give his team a lift, Columbus defenceman Dalton Prout took on Boston heavyweight Lucic for a fight midway into the second. Things were chippy, at times, for stretches in the second -- with a couple of scrums after whistles. Columbus went nearly 18 minutes without a shot on goal from the first into the second -- and that was a clear from their own zone on one of Bostons power plays. The Bruins posted a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday. NOTES: The Bruins improved to 14-2-1 when scoring the games first goal. ... Columbus LW Nick Foligno was given an unsportsmanlike conduct minor and 10-minute misconduct late in the second after he grabbed Boston D Dennis Seidenberg by the jersey from behind and spun him around during a scrum at centre ice. ... The Bruins are off until Thursday when they play rival Montreal. Columbus hosts Tampa Bay on Tuesday, the first of two straight at home. They also play Minnesota. ... The Blue Jackets fell to 1-11-0 when they trail after two periods. ... Former Bruin Johnny "The Chief" Bucyk watched the game from a luxury box. His No. 9 is retired and hanging in the rafters. ... A big melee broke out in the high-priced seats late in the game. ' ' '