WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals still have a number of challenges ahead as they work to secure a post-season berth. . Fortunately for the Nationals, the Miami Marlins are no longer one of them. Ricky Nolasco tossed a four-hitter to shut out Washington for the second time in two weeks and Giancarlo Stanton homered for the third straight day to lead the Marlins to an 8-0 win on Sunday. The Marlins won two of three games in the weekend series against the NL East-leading Nationals (86-54), whose division lead slipped to 5 1/2 games over Atlanta after the Braves beat the New York Mets 3-2 in 10 innings. "Theyve got a good ballclub. They play good against us," Washington manager Davey Johnson said. Miami, which despite being in last place in the NL East at 63-78, split the 18-game season series with Washington. "It was a lousy game and good homestand," Johnson said of the Nationals 8-3 record during a homestand that had a little bit of everything: bench-clearing altercations, lots of home runs, a torrential downpour, and Stephen Strasburgs final appearance of the season. Nolasco (12-12), who won his third straight and notched his fourth career shutout, also shut out the Nationals 9-0 on Aug. 28 against Strasburg. The right-hander struck out six and walked one, stifling a team that had scored 43 runs in its five previous games. "He can get nasty when he starts throwing that changeup and that curveball and hitting the corners with his fastball," Johnson said. On a day Johnson rested regulars Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond, Nolasco didnt allow a hit until Michael Morses one-out single in the fifth. The Nationals didnt get a runner past second base. "This type of offence will put runs up against you quick," Nolasco said. "I was just trying to pitch smart, trying to pitch to a good location and make them put the ball in play." Pitching on his 29th birthday, Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (9-10) lasted just 4 2-3 innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits. "I have to do a better job making pitches out of the stretch with men on base. I have to do a better job at damage control" Jackson said. The Marlins broke out in the top of the second. With two outs, Dobbs and Donovan Solano grounded singles up the middle. Rob Brantly followed with another single up the middle, just beyond the reach of a diving Steve Lombardozzi, to score Dobbs. Nolasco then hit a drive to deep centre. Harper went back on the ball, caught up to it, but lost it in the sun. The ball fell beside him and Solano and Brantly scored with Nolasco ending up on second with a double. "It was nasty. Big sun. Clear, blue sky," Johnson said. "You needed to have your hand up there to block it. It was that bright. And Bryce, he was tracking it and if you cant get your glove up there to block the sun and then at the last minute go to it, youre dead. Because he turned around and when he turned back up he couldnt find the ball." In the fourth, Solano led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Bryan Peterson singled home Solano and Justin Ruggianos double to the wall in left-centre scored Peterson. In the fifth, Stanton singled and stole second. He went to third on a bloop single to left by Dobbs and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Solano. That was all for Jackson, who was replaced by Tom Goorzelanny. "I thought Jackson was gonna throw a nasty game the way he started," Johnson said. "But then he just started getting more deliberate, more deliberate. Hes done that before." Stanton hit the first pitch of the seventh inning just over the wall in left for his 33rd homer of the season. He has 11 homers and 20 RBIs in 20 career games in Nationals Park. NOTES: Jackson was bidding to become Washingtons fourth 10-game winner along with Gio Gonzalez (18), Strasburg (15) and Jordan Zimmerman (10). . CIA Director David Petraeus, former Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Washington begins a three-game series at the New York Mets on Monday with Gonzalez (18-6, 2.98 ERA) opposing Collin McHugh (0-1, 3.27). ... Miami continues its road trip in Philadelphia on Monday. Wade LeBlanc (2-3, 2.72) starts for Miami against Kyle Kendrick (8-10, 3.96). [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-jonathan-casillas-je... Casillas Jersey . Bautista -- the Jays lone representative for the mid-summer classic -- placed second in Mondays Home-Run Derby and was front and centre, making a great catch in Tuesdays game. . Among the topics discussed were a potential deal for Carey Price and the frontrunner for Roberto Luongo. Jonathan Quick gets a lucrative 10-year contract so is it now Carey Prices turn? Bob McKenzie: I dont think theres any question that Carey Price is next up on the tee. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-mike-williams-jersey... . -- Josh Hamilton made one thing clear: The Texas Rangers will forget their stunning season-ending sweep at Oakland and regroup as an American League wild card. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-andre-neblett-jersey... Neblett Jersey . Among the list of his many achievements is no mention of his 21st NHL season, the one that was never played because of the 2004-05 lockout. With the sport back in another dark period brought on by another labour dispute, Sakic reflected on the year that never was on the day he took his place among hockeys greats. . -- Adrian Peterson has one speed: full.During day three of the track cycling program include the mens individual sprint, the womens team pursuit and the start of the mens omnium. Following the qualification round of the mens sprint, Briton Jason Kenny is ranked in the number one spot with a 9.713 second time trial result.Kennys time is a new Olympic record. Ranked second is Frances Gregory Bauge, with Australian Shane Perkins in third. A total of 17 riders have set qualifying times to have their seed position established for the first round of eliminations later this mornning. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-darrelle-revis-jerse... Revis Jersey. nbsp; Canadian Zach Bell is ranked seventh after the first round of the omnium, the 250m time trial. In each round of the omnium, riders score the number of points equal to their finishing position in each event, with the goal of accumulating the lowest possible score. Edward Clancy of Great Britain took the lead in the omnium, ahead of New Zealands Shane Archbold. Glenn OShea of Australia is ranked third. The omnium continues with the 30km points race, starting at 11:54am ET. ' ' '