WASHINGTON (Map, News) - They tried to downplay the disappointment. But the tone in the Nationals locker room told the story.

Up by two runs in the eighth inning, it took just five batters and two home runs for the Florida Marlins to steal the lead and the game. It was another excruciating loss in a week full of them for the Nats, who dropped a 5-4 decision on a drizzly Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.

The victim for Washington was right-handed reliever Luis Ayala, who allowed a two-run home run to right field on a poorly located change-up to Jeremy Hermida and three batters latter watched Dan Uggla deposit a solo shot in the same area. Ayala declined to speak with the media afterwards.

“Every loss is tough. That’s all that counts, “W” or “L”,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “But this one is a little more discouraging at the end because you played so well and everything just goes through your fingers in one inning.”

Florida (23-14), which entered the season with few expectations after trading away stars Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, swept the three-game series and has won seven in a row. The Marlins remain alone in first place in the National League East. The Nats (15-23) have lost five of six and coughed up the winning run three times in the eighth or ninth-inning in that stretch. The loss overshadowed a solid start from Shawn Hill, who gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings.

“It’s a loss. Put it behind us and go on to tomorrow,” said Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. “It’s happened before and it’ll happen again. There’s no real reason to get upset about it. There’s nothing we can do except learn from our mistakes.”