Jason Marquis hit a two-run double to cap a six-run first inning and pitched into the seventh to earn the win, helping the Washington Nationals avoid a three-game sweep with an 8-4 win over the Florida Marlins on Sunday at Nationals Park.

The loss snapped a streak of eight consecutive wins in Washington for the Marlins, who had not lost at Nationals Park since May 9, 2010.

Marquis (5-1) gave up four runs (two earned) over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and a walk and struck out two.

The Nationals staked Marquis to a big lead with six runs in the first against starter Javier Vazquez. Ivan Rodriguez's two-run single and Marquis' double were the big hits in the inning. Rodriguez added an RBI double in the fifth.

Vazquez (2-4) settled in after the first, but the laborious opening inning ran up his pitch count and he lasted only four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Marlins were unable to gain ground on the division-leading Phillies, who lost at Atlanta, and remain two games back in the NL East.