Janson Junk (1-0) worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in a bullpen game, allowing two hits and striking out four. Faucher earned his seventh save.

The Washington Nationals fell to an agonizing 4-3 defeat in their game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday. But it was not all doom and gloom for the Nationals and their fans as the team’s “top paw-spect” made his long-awaited MLB debut.

The Miami Marlins will go for their first series sweep of the season when they visit the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon.

Miami Marlins (27-41, fifth in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (30-40, fourth in the NL East) Washington; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Eury Perez (0-1, 12.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP,

The Nationals won the pregame with a special ceremonial performance by Bruce the Bat Dog before losing the actual game.

Bruce the Dat Dog was promoted from Triple-A to take the field for Saturday's showdown between the Nationals and Marlins, even getting an official patch.

Rookie Agustín Ramírez hit two home runs and Eric Wagaman had three RBIs to help the Miami Marlins hand the Washington Nationals their sixth straight loss, 11-9 in a game that included a rain delay of more than two hours.