Marlins 3, Nationals 1

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Josh Beckett capped an outstanding spring training with another strong effort Thursday.

"Hopefully I can take what I learned here into the season and pitch as well there as I did here," the Florida Marlins' opening day starter said.

Beckett limited the Washington Nationals to one run over seven innings in the Marlins' 3-1 victory, lowering his ERA to 0.98. Beckett's next start will count: It's Tuesday at home against NL East rival Atlanta.

"I like his attitude this spring," manager Jack McKeon said. "He looks like he's come in focused, he's worked very hard. I think he's on a mission to prove he can live up to all the potential."

Beckett, just 24, will make his third consecutive opening day start. But the 2003 World Series MVP enters his fourth full season with a 26-26 record and questions about his ability to remain healthy.

But he's been outstanding during this exhibition season, allowing just three earned runs in 27 2-3 innings, striking out 24.

"During the spring you try new things and I found a few things that were working for me," Beckett said.

One of those was lifting weights after he pitches.

"We have a good staff," Beckett said. "Health is the only issue here."

Beckett's support came from Juan Encarnacion and Damion Easley, who each hit his first homer of the spring. Encarnacion's was a two-run shot in the fourth after Paul Lo Duca reached on a single.

Both home runs were surrendered by John Patterson, who dropped to 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA this spring.

The Nationals' run came on leadoff hitter Nick Johnson's sacrifice fly in the sixth. Washington has scored just 19 runs in its last nine games, going 2-7.

"We're not hitting, and when we do hit, it's singles," Washington manager Frank Robinson said.