Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Livan Hernandez went eight-plus innings, Marlon Byrd drove in three runs, and the Washington Nationals stymied the Florida Marlins, 5-2, in the opener of four pivotal games at RFK Stadium.

Florida is a game behind first-place Houston in the NL wild card race, while the Nationals are 1 1/2 games back.

Hernandez (15-6) scattered six hits and allowed two runs while striking out four in a clutch performance. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate and helped himself with an RBI.

"This was the best game he's pitched in quite a while," Washington manager Frank Robinson said. "Hernandez is getting better, he's getting back to where he's been. ... Let's talk about his hitting."

Byrd finished the day 3-for-5, including a double and a triple, while Deivi Cruz added a pair of hits.

Jason Vargas (5-3) took the loss despite a solid five-plus innings. He gave up a run on seven hits and struck out four.

Miguel Cabrera belted a two-run homer in the ninth to highlight Florida's offense.

The Nationals jumped in front in the first inning when Jose Guillen singled home Brad Wilkerson, who had reached on a base hit and then advanced to third on a Byrd single.

Washington nearly scored again in the sixth. Vinny Castilla started things off with a single to right, and Cruz followed with a base hit to put men on first and second. Antonio Alfonseca took the mound for Florida in relief of Vargas, while Kenny Kelly came in to pinch run for Castilla.

The next batter, Gary Bennett, bunted the runners over, but Hernandez grounded into a 5-2-3 double play to end the inning. Paul Lo Duca tagged out at Kelly at home on a laser throw from Cabrera, and then fired the ball to first to get Hernandez.

But Hernandez came through at the plate for Washington in the eighth. After a two-out intentional walk to Brian Schneider, Hernandez stroked a soft line drive single into right to score Ryan Zimmerman, who had led off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cruz.

Wilkerson then walked to load the bases, and Byrd broke the game open with a three-run double off the base of the wall in left.

Guillen grounded out to end the outburst. All four runs were charged to Florida reliever Guillermo Mota, who entered the contest in the seventh.

Luis Castillo led off the ninth with a single to left, and Cabrera followed with a blast over the center-field wall to finally get Florida on the board. Hernandez departed at that point.

Mike Stanton came in and got Carlos Delgado to fly out to deep center, then Chad Cordero struck out Juan Encarnacion and elicited a groundout from pinch- hitter Lenny Harris to end the game.

The Marlins struggled at the plate most of the day. They threatened in the fifth. Encarnacion singled, went to second on a Jeff Conine walk and moved to third on a Lo Duca double play. But Encarnacion was left stranded when Damion Easley grounded out.

Easley drilled a one-out double to left in the eighth, but it went to waste as Jeremy Hermida flew out and Juan Pierre struck out.

Game Notes

The Nationals have not committed an error in their last nine games...Cabrera has 29 home runs this season...Washington had an 11-6 edge in hits.