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WASHINGTON -- Gio Gonzalez loves how the Washington Nationals are playing right now, and its easy to see why. Air Max 90 Outlet . Gonzalez pitched seven crisp innings and Washington slugged three homers in a 9-0 victory over the sliding Miami Marlins on Thursday night. "Were getting our groove back," Gonzalez said. "I think that you can see it live, and the chemistry in here is just getting better and better. I think its the music choice. I dont know what it is, but I think that our guys out there are having more fun up there at the plate." Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond each hit a three-run homer as Washington won for the eighth time in its best nine-game stretch of the season. Bryce Harper also went deep to help the Nationals pull within 6 1/2 games of idle Cincinnati for the second NL wild-card slot. Gonzalez (8-6) allowed three hits and struck out eight in his first victory in six weeks. The left-hander, who was 0-3 with a 5.94 ERA in his previous seven starts, retired his last 11 batters. The Nationals (68-65) were six games under .500 on Aug. 6, and now theyre three games over for the first time since July 10 thanks to their hot offence. "Were a scary team when were going good, and I think everybody knows that," Harper said. Ryan Zimmerman sparked Washingtons offence with a leadoff walk in the fourth. Harper drove Tom Koehlers next pitch over the wall in left for his 19th homer, extending his career-best hitting streak to 11 games. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Harper has adjusted his batting stance. "Hes a little more upright," Johnson said. "Theres not so much tension. When you get down in a little crouch, theres a little more tension that builds up. "He looks more relaxed." Zimmerman, who went 3 for 3, led off the sixth with a base hit and Harper walked before Werth belted a drive to left for his 21st homer. Desmond had the last homer of the night, a 1-2 shot to left with two out in the seventh for his 20th of the season. Zimmerman was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on Werths single before Desmond went deep. Adeiny Hechavarria had two of Miamis four hits in its eighth loss in nine games -- matching its worst nine-game stretch since May. Koehler (3-9) allowed six runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. Gonzalez gave Washingtons bullpen some much needed rest. Although the Nationals swept Miami, their first two starters didnt go deep. Stephen Strasburg pitched just three innings Wednesday due to a rain delay, and Ross Ohlendorf threw five-plus innings in the series opener. Gonzalez walked three hitters in the first two innings before returning to the locker room to change his jersey. Inside, Rafael Soriano advised Gonzalez on his mechanics, and the starter said the message turned his outing around. "If you would have told me I was going seven, I would have laughed in your face in the second inning," Gonzalez said. The Marlins have drawn 34 walks in their last 10 games, and none of the runners have scored. Miami has scored three or fewer runs in each of its last eight games, averaging 1.6 runs in that stretch. "We did hit some balls hard, right at some guys, I guess, if youre trying to find a couple positives," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "But really, at the end of the day, we didnt pitch well tonight, we didnt hit and we got beat." Denard Span matched a career-best 12-game hit streak with his first-inning single, and Werth finished with three hits. NOTES: The Marlins optioned RHP Arquimedes Caminero to Triple-A New Orleans and recalled RHP Sam Dyson from their top farm club. Caminero had a 2.25 ERA and a blown save in four games with Miami. Dyson was 1-3 with a 2.61 ERA in five starts for the Zephyrs and will fill a long-relief role with the Marlins. ... Johnson marveled at the inexperience of Strasburg, whos in his fourth season. During Wednesdays delay, pitching coach Steve McCatty worked with Strasburg. "(McCatty) said, Just relax. Youve been in this situation," Johnson said. "(Strasburg) said, No, I havent. He was shocked." ... Marlins 2B Donovan Solano hit leadoff for just the second time this season and first time since April. "Were at a point in the seasons where we have a chance to try different things," Redmond said. ... A batted ball hit Miami RHP Ryan Webb in the back while he stretched on the field during the Nationals batting practice. Webb fell to the ground, and Redmond asked Jose Fernandez why he was laughing. "He gets hit every time," Fernandez said. "We go anywhere, he gets hit." Webb left the field with a trainer, and a Miami spokesman said Webb had a bruised back. Yeezy 350 Outlet . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. Vapormax Outlet . So far, so good: Gonzalez has allowed one run through 12 innings this season. His second start came Tuesday night, when he gave up only three singles over six innings to lead the Nationals to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.Fort Worth, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Busch led 80 of 152 laps but had to rally in the closing laps to win Friday nights WinStar World Casino and Resort 350 Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. After a late-race caution for an accident involving Tayler Malsam, John Wes Townley and Justin Jennings, Busch gave up the lead when he pitted for four tires. German Quiroga opted not to pit and took over the top spot. Busch ran in ninth for the restart but quickly moved to the front and was attempting to pass Quiroga for the lead before the seventh and final caution came for an incident involving ThorSport Racing teammates Jeb Burton and Johnny Sauter. The caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Busch immediately passed Quiroga for the lead following the last restart. On the final lap, Quiroga spun out and backed it hard into the wall after his Red Horse Racing teammate, Timothy Peters, bumped into him. The race ended under caution, with Busch winning a Truck Series race at Texas for the third time. He also claimed his seventh win of the season in the series and the 42nd of his career. I thought the 17 (Peters) was in the catbird seat there, and I figured he had the perfect (pit) strategy with two tires, Busch said of last round of pit stops. I wasnt sure if I would be able to get to him. I got there, and then that caution came out and got me side-by-side with the 77 (Quirogga) for the restart. Vapormax Italia. I just set sail from there and held it open for the last two laps. Our truck was pretty fast. Burton finished second, followed by Peters, Tyler Reddick, the pole sitter, and Matt Crafton, the defending series champion and current points leader. Quiroga ended up finishing 17th. With two races to go -- Phoenix next Friday and Homestead on Nov. 14 -- Crafton holds a 23-point lead over Ryan Blaney, who placed ninth. Darrell Wallace Jr., who is Buschs teammate and last weekends race winner at Martinsville, suffered engine failure in the late going and finished 26th. Wallace led a total of 51 laps and was running second to Busch when his motor expired. He is now 43 points behind Crafton. I feel really, really bad for Bubba Wallace, said Busch, who is the owner of Wallaces No. 54 Toyota. He was doing everything right tonight. He was really fast. It was a shame to see his motor let go. Kyle Busch Motorsports earned its 12th win of the 2014 season, placing the racing organization into a tie with Ultra Motorsports for the series all-time single-season high in victories (2001). In addition to Buschs seven victories, Wallace has won three times and Erik Jones twice. Jones drives Buschs No. 51 Toyota in a limited schedule this season. Buschs win at Texas also allowed Toyota to clinch this years Camping World Truck Series Manufacturers Championship. ' ' '