Josh Johnson matched a career high with nine strikeouts and hit a home run, but he was unable to record his 11th victory of the season after struggling in the eighth inning.

The Nationals batted around and scored six runs in that frame to erase a four-run deficit and claim a 6-4 win over the Marlins on Tuesday night at Nationals Park. Adam Dunn poked a two-run home run to the opposite field for the go-ahead runs.

Johnson cruised through the first seven innings, retiring 20 straight batters after giving up a pair of early singles. With a 4-0 lead to start the eighth, he immediately ran into trouble. Johnson yielded three straight singles, and pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard doubled to score two runs and knock Johnson out of the game.

Nyjer Morgan hit an RBI groundout off lefty Renyel Pinto, cutting the lead to 4-3. Against Kiki Calero, Cristian Guzman followed with a game-tying RBI single past a diving Nick Johnson at first base. Then Dunn struck on a 3-2 pitch from Dan Meyer.

Before Tuesday, the Marlins had won 10 straight games against the Nationals.

Johnson’s homer in the fourth inning — his third this season — tied Dontrelle Willis (2006) and Alex Fernandez (1999) for most home runs in a season by a Marlins pitcher.

Two batters before Johnson, Cody Ross banged his 18th home run of the season.

Man, that’s a tough loss. JJ was cruising after allowing two hits in the first. He retired the next 20 he faced and looked overpowering and well on his way to another CCHOTGA as he also hit his 3rd home of the season.

But then came the 8th, and the wheels came off. This one was a collective loss, as everybody that pitched in the 8th had a hand in the loss, so you can’t blame any one pitcher.

However, Jeremy Hermida did have 9 LOB in the game, including bailing out MacDougal in the 9th when he couldnt’ throw a strike to save his life, and ended the game on a double play, so he’s the obvious recipient of the Scott Olsen Memorial Mugshot Award tonight.

Jeremy Hermida…

Maybe he needs to bring the beard back. It worked for me. Nothing like a slumpbuster beard.

Not defending him in this game, but overall this season he pretty much can only hit with runners on. He had a terrible game, but he’s hit .287/.372/.433/.805 with men on compared to .232/.316/.355/.670 with the bases empty. Yeah, he’s the reason we lost tonight, but he’s been pretty OK with men on. Just sucks that he had to be the goat tonight, because the team really struggled with runners on today.

I’ve defended Hermida since he came up with the team, as his apparently lackadaisical playing style and sometimes terrible defense really gets on his skin, but after 3 straight terrible months from May to now, I’m ready to give up on him. You’re telling me Brett Carroll couldn’t give you the .700 OPS Hermida has? And the defense would be absolutely unquestionably better. I would’ve liked to have seen Hermida moved at the deadline just to get a warm body for him. Have to just hope he can give you something these next two months, but it really doesn’t look good.

@

The Marlins (55-50, 2nd in NL East 5GB) look to stay hot against the Nationals after coming off one of the most entertaining series of the year versus the Chicago Cubs.  The Marlins know this is a series they should sweep. They have swept the Nationals three times already this year and look to make it a perfect 12-0.  The Marlins took two of three from the Cubs with a thrilling walk-off home run by Co-dy Ross off of former Marlins closer Kevin Gregg.  Newly acquired Nick Johnson will be back in Nationals Park just four days after being traded to the Marlins for pitching prospect Aaron Thompson.  The Fish hope John Baker can continue his hot streak. He comes into this series with a 10 game hitting streak while hitting .353 over the last seven days.  Hanley Ramirez is listed as questionable for the series, but did pinch hit on Sunday.

The Nationals (34-72, 5th in NL East) look to keep improving under new manager Jim Riggleman.  After a dreadful start for Riggleman, the team has picked up its play and have won six of their last ten games.  Since becoming a National, Nyjer Morgan has been one tough out.  In his 29 games for the Nats, he is hitting .379 while stealing 14 bases and looks to add to that total against the Marlins pitching staff which gives up a lot of stolen bases.

Here are the pitching matchups:

8/4/09, 7:05 PM ET

Josh Johnson, RHP (10-2, 2.87)

J.D. Martin, RHP (0-2, 7.50)

Marlins: The Marlins send ace Josh Johnson to the mound to kick off the series.  He looks to keep the streak alive and make it 10 straight wins against the Nationals.  Last time out JJ faced the Braves, he allowed three earned runs over six innings and raised his streak to 18 consecutive games with three earned runs or less.

Nationals: J.D. Martin takes the ball for the Nationals seeking his first win.  In his last start he lasted six innings giving up five earned runs to the Brewers.

8/5/09, 7:05 PM ET

Game of the Series

Rick VandenHurk, RHP (1-0, 2.65)

John Lannan, LHP (7-8, 3.41)

I will go with the second game for the “Game of the Series”.  The Marlins are favored to win the first game of the series with JJ on the mound, but will run into the Nationals best pitcher on Wednesday.  If the Marlins can get VandenHurk some run support and keep the Nationals powerful bats quiet it should be a familiar win.  In two starts against Florida Lannan is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA

Marlins: VandenHurk is coming off of a career-high nine strike out performance against the Braves where he received a no decision.  The right hander ran into trouble in the second inning surrendering a two-run home run to Casey Kotchman, then settled down to pitch a strong six innings.

Nationals vs. RHP:

25-54, 4.4RPG

Notable Nationals vs. VandenHurk:

Ryan Zimmerman – 1-3, 2B, 1RBI, .333

Austin Kearns – 3-3, 1RBI, 1.000

Adam Dunn – 1-3, 2B, .333

Nationals: John Lannan gets the nod for the Nationals.  Lannan took the loss giving up five earned runs over seven innings to the Pirates last time out.

Notable Marlins vs. Lannan

John Baker - 2-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, .500

Jorge Cantu – 2-5, 2B, HR, 3RBI, .400

Hanley Ramirez – 1-4, 2B, 1RBI, .250

8/6/09, 12:35 PM ET

Chris Volstad, RHP (8-9, 4.35)

Craig Stammen, RHP (3-6, 4.96)

Marlins: Chris Volstad lasted 6 2/3 his last time out versus the Cubs, with the only earned runs coming off a two run blast by Jake Fox.   In two games Volstad is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA against the Nationals.

Nationals: Will give the ball to Craig Stammen.  Stammen could not make it out of the third inning his last time out giving up six earned runs to the Pirates.  In his only start against the Marlins he received a no decision going 5 1/3 innings of three run ball.