WASHINGTON – Wily Mo Pena singled to break a tie in the seventh, leading Washington to a 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins, the Nationals’ fifth straight win.

Austin Kearns had three hits, including his 13th home run of the year, and the Nationals handed the Marlins their 17th loss in the past 21 games. Florida fell three games behind Washington in the NL East basement.

With the score tied at 4-4, Matt Lindstrom (2-4), Florida’s fifth pitcher of the evening, retired the first two Washington batters. Kearns singled, advance to second on a wild pitch and scored on Pena’s line drive single to center.

Brian Schneider followed with a run-scoring single off Taylor Tankersley.

Each team used seven pitchers, with neither starter lasting past the third inning. Luis Ayala (1-2), the fifth Washington pitcher, got the win, pitching a perfect seventh. Jon Rauch struck out the side in the eighth and Chad Cordero pitched out of trouble in the ninth to earn his 31th save in 39 opportunities.

Florida starter Sergio Mitre allowed three runs and could only get two outs in a frightful first inning. Mitre loaded the bases and then gave up a run-scoring single to Ryan Church and bases-loaded walks to Schneider and Robert Fick. After Mitre threw two more balls to Washington starter Tim Redding, Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez had enough and called for Daniel Barone. Barone retired Redding on a ground out.

The Marlins scored twice in the third, and Redding had to leave with an injury. After Jeremy Hermida drove in Dan Uggla with a double, Miguel Cabrera hit a high chopper that Redding tried to field. He couldn’t and fell to the ground in pain while Cabrera reached first.

Redding was diagnosed with a right elbow contusion and was replaced by Jonathan Albaladejo, who made his major league debut. He got Josh Willingham to hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Hermida.

Redding will be out seven to 10 days.

Kearns homered with one out in the fifth inning off Ross Wolf to make it 4-2.

Florida tied it in the fifth on a two-run home run by Miguel Olivo. It was his 14th and landed off the facing of the left-field mezzanine.

Notes: Washington has won seven straight games at home against Florida. … Ramirez was hitless – ending his hitting streak at 12 games. … Washington OF Justin Maxwell made his major league debut, flying out as a pinch-hitter. Maxwell, Washington’s second-round draft choice in 2005, was promoted from Class-A Potomac on Tuesday.

AP-ES-09-05-07 2223EDT