Cristian Guzman fell a home run shy of the cycle, Adam Dunn homered in his third straight game and the Washington Nationalstied a season high with their fourth straight win, 5-4 over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Ryan Zimmerman and Ronnie Belliard also connected for the Nationals, who improved to 10-6 under interim manager Jim Riggleman. Washington has won the first two games of this series after dropping the first nine meetings this year.

Nyjer Morgan continued to give the Nationals a spark from the leadoff spot. He went 1 for 2, walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs. Five of the Nationals’ eight hits went for extra-bases.

Dan Uggla hit a solo homer for the Marlins in the second inning and added a two-run single in the seventh. But the Marlins missed on a number of scoring chances, stranding eight.

The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first when Zimmerman and Dunn homered on consecutive pitches off Florida starter Rick VandenHurk (1-1), who gave up all three homers. Zimmerman sliced a homer just inside the right-field foul pole, and Dunn followed with a long shot to right-center.

Belliard homered leading off the fourth.

Washington starter John Lannan (8-8) escaped several jams to get through six innings. He gave up two runs and eight hits.

Mike MacDougal came on in the ninth to earn his 10th save.

Ugh, whatever.

I don’t feel like doing any sort of extensive post tonight. Everyone but Dan Uggla and the bullpen lost this game tonight, how about that?
No team has won the NL Wild Card since 03 with less than 88 or more than 92 wins, so you have to thing 92 is the safe spot. The Marlins have to win 37 of their last 55 games to reach that, or .672 percent.

4.5 games back in the Wild Card, 6 back in the Division. Tomorrow is probably a must win, Volstad’s really going to have to keep the ball down as the Nats can hit home runs with the best of them.

Then they’re going to have to turn around a win 2 of 3 against the Phillies this weekend. Getting swept would effectively end the season.

Going through the schedule, you can’t help but be struck by just how daunting this task is going to be.
Amazing what two days can do to your confidence.