Ryan Zimmerman provided all the offense with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, and Max Scherzer made it stand as the Washington Nationals (54-46) shut out the Miami Marlins (42-60) by the slimmest of margins, 1-0, Thursday afternoon at Marlins Park. 

Zimmerman lined a 2-2 cutter from Dan Haren into the Clevelander seats behind the left-center field fence to score the only run of the entire game. 

The blast is Zimmerman's sixth of the season, and it was one of two extra-base hits for Zimmerman in his 2-for-4 performance. Michael Taylor also had two of the Nationals' five hits, and Bryce Harper contributed a double. The Nationals were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

The pitchers' duel ended in only 2:38 because both Haren and Scherzer worked quickly and kept hitters off base. The two starters combined for 10 strikeouts, 14 groundouts, and eight flyouts in 13 innings. The bullpens combined for one hit and no walks in five innings pitched, which kept the game moving at a fast pace.

Scherzer (W: 11-8, 2.22 ERA) pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on three singles. He walked three and struck out six. He faced a maximum of four hitters in one inning, which he did four times. In his other three innings, he set the Marlins down in order twice and induced a double play once to face only three men. Only Christian Yellich and Casey McGehee hit safely with Yellich collecting two hits. 

Jonathan Papelbon (S: 18) earned the save in his Nationals debut. He face three men in the ninth, striking out Michael Morse to end the game. Morse was rumored and actually chosen to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers via trade, but the latest is that he could possibly go to the Atlanta Braves.

Haren (L: 7-7, 3.42) pitched almost just as well. In six innings, he allowed only four hits, but one of those was Zimmerman's home run. His walked two and struck out four. Three Marlins relievers combined for one hit and three strikeouts in three innings of work. 

With the win, the Nationals increase their lead in the National League Eastern division to three games over the New York Mets, who lost to the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon. 

On Friday, Gio Gonzalez (8-4, 3.83) pitches for Washington while Miami counters with Matt Harvey (9-7, 3.16). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT.