Ps 3 » 6-2 in Thomas Schneiders first B

MIAMI -- The Washington Nationals have clinched a division title and are continuing to make a push toward home-field advantage for the playoffs. Adam LaRoche hit an early two-run homer to support Doug Fister and lead the NL-leading Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Fister (15-6) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Nationals, who have won six of seven. "Weve got some momentum, guys are playing well -- great defence behind us -- so that makes it a little bit easier," Fister said. "Were still staying focused and working together." The Nationals (89-64) lead the Dodgers (88-66) by 1 1-2 games for the best record in the league and are expected to get third baseman Ryan Zimmerman back from a hamstring injury for the stretch run. "Its nice, its what great seasons are all about, kind of peaking at the right time, getting healthy at the right time, and this last month and a half everyone is healthy and weve been playing good ball," said Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard, who pitched a scoreless eighth. Washingtons Denard Span had two hits and drove in a run for Washington. Justin Bour hit his first major league home run for the Marlins and two RBIs. "Obviously felt good to get that home run, its not as enjoyable as if we would have won, but its definitely very cool and Im excited that it happened," Bour said. "It took a little bit longer than I thought it would, but Im glad it did." Drew Storen pitched a clean ninth for his eighth save in 11 chances. LaRoche hit his 25th home run of Tom Koehler (9-10) in the first inning, a two-run drive in the upper deck to right field. "Those guys put the ball in the seats, thats what they do," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "You look in the middle of that order with four guys with 80 RBIs, those guys can do some damage." Bours RBI groundout scored Marcell Ozuna, who tripled to leadoff the second. The Nationals loaded the bases in the third inning after Span tripled and Koehler issued consecutive walks, but LaRoche struck out and Ian Desmond lined into an unassisted double play to second baseman Enrique Hernandez. Spans RBI single in the fourth extended the Nationals lead to 3-1. Bour pulled the Marlins to 3-2 with a homer to deep right-centre field. Koehler allowed three runs in five innings. "Any time you give them a two-point advantage before we even get started, its going to be tough," Koehler said. "Theres a reason why they are where they are." TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: Zimmerman (hamstring) played seven innings in an intrasquad game on Friday in Viera, going 3 for 8 with a home run. He could be reinstated from the disabled list over the weekend. "Hes sore right now, its like spring training," Williams said. "I dont think its hamstring sore, its just general body soreness." Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (Tommy John surgery) has been cleared to start throwing on Oct. 1. "I know hes really excited about it and we are too, so thats huge," Redmond said. ... RHP Bryan Morris (groin) has been shut down for the remainder of the season. UP NEXT The two teams will meet again on Saturday with Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (12-5, 2.83) on the mound against Marlins RHP Jarred Cosart (4-2, 2.05). The Nationals have won the last nine starts pitched by Zimmermann, who is 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA during that span. Cosart will be looking for his 14th win of the season after going 9-7 with the Astros. BOUR GETS HOME RUN BALL Bours home run bounced off the seats in the upper deck and bounced back into play. Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth alertly picked up the ball and tossed it over the fence into the Marlins bullpen so Bour could have the keepsake. "Werth threw it over the bullpen for me so that was pretty cool," Bour said. LaROCHE REACHES PLATEAU LaRoche reached the 25-home run plateau for the sixth time in his career. His career-high is 33 set in 2012. 00:11ET 20-09-14 Pat Tillman Jersey .com) - Delon Wright made all 12 of his free throws and finished with 21 points and six assists as No. Chandler Jones Jersey . Nikolai Khabibulin was yanked in the second period, and the Ottawa Senators looked ready to put away a big road win. http://www.officialarizonacardinalspro.com/Customized/.com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. Adrian Wilson Jersey .The team had a meeting prior to facing Russia at the world junior hockey championship and got the effort theyve been looking for by defeating the Russians 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Christian Kirk Jersey . Erik Cole scored on a breakaway with 4:49 to play, and the Stars rallied to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Saturday night.BERLIN -- Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored twice for Borussia Dortmund to maintain its winning start to the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Mkhitaryan, a 27.5-million euro ($35.4 million) off-season signing from Shakhtar Donetsk, opened his account for his new side in the 10th minute, when Jakub Blaszczykowski timed his pass perfectly to set the Armenian up. Another off-season signing, Frankfurts Czech striker Vaclav Kadlec, equalized in the 36th, converting the rebound after Stefan Aigners initial headed effort crashed back off the crossbar after a great cross from Takashi Inui. Mkhitaryan produced a fine individual effort for what proved to be the winner in the 56th, collecting the ball from Kevin Grosskreutz near the touchline, advancing past a defender and then unleashing a shot with his left boot inside the far post. "I feel very good in Dortmund and am very happy to have scored my first goal," Mkhitaryan said. "Of course its even nicer that I scored a second one too." Frankfurt was left to rue missed chances, with Dortmund doing just enough to grind out the hard-fought win. "I think we deserved a draw. We had chances in the first half, like they did. We were at the same level in the second half," said Frankfurt coach Armin Veh. Dortmund is the only Bundesliga side to have won all four games this season, with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen both dropping points in the fourth round. Nevertheless, Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp was relieveed to get the three points.dddddddddddd. "We have to play better football, theres no question," Klopp said. "Ive seen a few weaknesses in our build-up play and ideally we need to defend better. Still, with 12 points after four games, this is complaining at a high level." Earlier Sunday, Stuttgart routed Hoffenheim 6-2 in Thomas Schneiders first Bundesliga game in charge, with Vedad Ibisevic claiming a hat trick against his former club. "The lads put the plan into action very well," said Schneider, who took over on Monday after Bruno Labbadia was sacked for starting the league with three straight defeats. "There were a lot of elements in place which made it so much fun." Alexandru Maxim set up Antonio Ruedigers opening score in the 12th minute and delivered a corner for Ibisevic to score with a header seven minutes later. Kevin Volland pulled one back with a deflected shot in the 26th, but Maxim capitalized on a missed clearance from Hoffenheim keeper Koen Casteels to score two minutes later. Ibisevic scored his second two minutes after the break, when he shrugged David Abraham off the ball, rounded Casteels and slotted to the empty net. Maxim capped a fine performance with a wonderful strike inside the far corner in the 55th, before Ibisevic completed his hat trick with another header in the 63rd. Roberto Firmino claimed an 87th-minute consolation for Hoffenheim. "It was an off-day for us," Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol said. ' ' '