Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

Adam Eaton spent his first two days with the Nationals getting on base just about every chance he got. He opened his third day in D.C. showing everybody he also knows how to circle the bases.

Eaton launched his first home run with his new team this afternoon, sending a solo shot over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field to give the Nats a quick 1-0 lead over the Marlins in their rain-delayed series finale.

The center fielder, acquired from the White Sox over the winter for three pitching prospects including Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, has made his presence known right away. Eaton reached base five times in his first two games, then increased his on-base percentage to .667 when he hammered the first pitch he saw from Marlins starter Tom Koehler today.

Eaton's blast is the lone run of the game through four innings, thanks to some effective and efficient work from Gio Gonzalez. The Nationals lefty threw his first nine pitches of the afternoon for strikes and completed a scoreless first inning on 13 pitches.

Gonzalez has let at least one batter reach base in each of his first four innings, but he has bounced back in each case to get out of the inning. He has four strikeouts (including one of slugger Giancarlo Stanton) and induced a double play from Justin Bour to escape a two-on jam in the top of the fourth.

The Nationals had a chance to pad their 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when they loaded the bases with one out. But Ryan Zimmerman, who doubled in his first at-bat of the day, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to kill that rally.

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 20 minutes by rain.

Update: Gonzalez has scattered seven hits through six innings, allowing no runs and striking out five. Gonzalez struck out Bour with two men on to end the sixth. Nats lead 1-0.

The rain started to come down again so the tarp is back on the field at approximately 7:10 p.m. It is the second rain delay of the day. The game is expected to resume at 8:10 p.m.

Update II: After a 2-hour, 3-minute rain delay, we are back underway with the Nats leading the Marlins 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth.

Update III: Jayson Werth crushed a solo shot in the seventh, his first homer of the season. The drive landed in the Marlins bullpen. Werth made two catches in the top of the inning as the Marlins tried to bring home a run off of Koda Glover. Glover got pinch-hitter Ichiro to ground out to end the threat.

Update IV: The Marlins tied the game in the eighth on a two-run shot to center field by J.T. Realmuto off of Shawn Kelley. It was the second homer in the series for Realmuto, tying the game at 2-2.

Update V: In the eighth facing Junichi Tazawa with two outs, Zimmerman launched a drive deep to center field, which initially looked like it bounced off the top of the green wall for a triple. Upon video review, the call was changed to a home run because the ball went under a small fence, hitting the green grass of the berm, and bouncing back on the field. It is Zimmerman's second homer over these first three games, and the Nationals regained a 3-2 lead.

Update VI: With two outs and a man on third against Blake Treinen, pinch-hitter and former National Tyler Moore laced a single up the middle to score Adeiny Hechavarria, tying the game again at 3-3.

The Nationals threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but Trea Turner's line drive was caught by Bour at first for an unassisted double play.

We are in extra innings with the game tied at 3-3.

Update VII: Bour deliverd an RBI double off Joe Blanton to score Realmuto from first and the Marlins took the lead back 4-3 in the 10th inning.

The Nationals were able to get two men on with two outs in the bottom of the inning against A.J. Ramos. But Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon popped up to end the game.

Final score: Marlins 4, Nationals 3 in 10 innings.