Marlins 3, Nationals 0: Henderson Alvarez pitched seven strong innings and Giancarlo Stanton knocked in a pair of runs as host Miami extended its season-high winning streak to six games.

Jordany Valdespin and Stanton each recorded two hits and Christian Yelich added an RBI double for the Marlins (53-53), who reached .500 for the first time since June 25. Alvarez (8-5) allowed three hits, four walks and struck out four while Steve Cishek loaded the bases in the ninth before notching his 27th save.

Bryce Harper collected a pair of hits and Anthony Rendon doubled for the Nationals, who have dropped four of their last six contests. Washington’s Stephen Strasburg (7-9) yielded one run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over seven innings to lose his third straight start.

Two walks and a Harper single loaded the bases with none out in the second inning for the Nationals, but Alvarez retired the next three batters to end the threat. Miami finally broke the scoreless tie in the sixth when Valdespin singled and came all the way around on Stanton’s double into the left-field corner.

Mike Dunn needed only one pitch to get Harper on a pop-up after coming on with two on and two out in the eighth. Pinch hitter Reed Johnson singled to lead off the Marlins’ half of the inning and scored on a double to center by Yelich, who later came home on Stanton’s one-out single for a 3-0 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Alvarez, who beat Washington for the first time in four decisions, threw 33 of his 101 pitches in the second inning. … Washington RF Jayson Werth was held out of the starting lineup with a right ankle injury, sustained in the series opener on Monday, before flying out as a pinch hitter in the ninth. … Miami 1B Jeff Baker went 0-for-3 to end his 11-game hitting streak.