Stephen Strasburg pitched eight scoreless innings and Ryan Zimmerman slugged two homers as the Washington Nationals defeated the host Miami Marlins 5-0 on Sunday afternoon.

The last-place Marlins failed to get their first three-game sweep since September of 2017 but still won their first series this year.

Strasburg (2-1) improved to 18-7 in his career against the Marlins. He also passed Gio Gonzalez as the Nationals' career leader in innings pitched.

On Sunday, Strasburg allowed two hits -- both singles -- and two walks, striking out 11. He threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 27 batters he faced. Of his 104 pitches, he got 21 swinging strikes.

Former Marlins reliever Kyle Barraclough got two outs in the ninth but was lifted after consecutive walks. Sean Doolittle came on to retire Miguel Rojas on a bases-loaded fly out.

Zimmerman now has three homers this season. He also has 13 career homers in his career at Marlins Park. That's the most homers by a visiting player in the stadium.

Brian Dozier added a solo homer for Washington. It was his third homer of the year and his second this series.

Washington's Howie Kendrick, who had one RBI, started at third base in place of Anthony Rendon, who has a contusion on his left elbow after being hit by a fastball on Saturday night.

Trevor Richards (0-3) took the loss, allowing six hits, two walks and three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven but allowed two homers, including Zimmerman's first blast to open the scoring in the fourth.

The Nationals extended their lead to 2-0 in the sixth. Adam Eaton slapped a leadoff single to start the rally. Victor Robles bunted for a hit by lifting the ball over charging first baseman Neil Walker, and both runners advanced when Richards bounced a wild pitch. Kendrick then hit a sacrifice fly that would've been a hit if not for a great running catch on the warning track by center fielder Lewis Brinson.

Dozier's homer in the seventh was similar to Zimmerman's first shot -- both on changeups and both down the left-field line.

Zimmerman added another solo homer in the ninth -- this one against reliever Tyler Kinley's slider -- and Wilmer Difo's RBI single capped the scoring.

--Field Level Media