Jesse Winker hit a grand slam, while Keibert Ruiz and Nick Senzel each added solo shots as the Washington Nationals powered past the host Miami Marlins 11-4 on Saturday.
Ninth-place hitter Jacob Young bundled two hits, one RBI, two stolen bases and four runs scored for Washington, which has won the first two of the teams’ four-game series. CJ Abrams had an RBI triple and Trey Lipscomb supplied three hits as the Nationals scored their most runs in a game this season.
Jacob Barnes (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for Washington in relief of starter Mitchell Parker, who allowed one run on six hits while striking out two and walking two.
Otto Lopez hit his first major league home run for Miami, a two-run shot in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt’s RBI single earlier in the frame snapped his 0-for-29 skid to begin the season. Josh Bell went 2-for-5 to snap an 0-for-16 slump.
The Marlins committed three errors and lost their fifth-straight game.
Miami starter Edward Cabrera (1-1) cruised through the first four innings, limiting the Nationals to two hits, before faltering in the fifth frame.
Lipscomb singled and Eddie Rosario walked to lead off the inning before Lipscomb was forced out at third base on Senzel’s bunt fielder’s choice. Rosario then swiped third with Young at the plate, while Senzel advanced to second after Bethancourt’s throw down to third base ricocheted off of Young’s bat.
Washington went ahead 2-1 when Rosario slid safely ahead of Bethancourt’s tag on Young’s soft grounder. Young reached first base on the play.
Cabrera then walked Abrams on four pitches to load the bases for Winker, who clobbered Cabrera’s hanging 2-1 curveball into the second deck in right field for his fourth career grand slam to boost the Nationals’ lead to 6-1.
Winker’s slam chased Cabrera, who allowed six runs — five earned — on four hits over 4 1/3 innings. Cabrera fanned four and walked two.
Washington moved ahead 7-1 in the sixth frame when Young raced home from second after Brujan’s throwing error.
The Nationals added three more runs in the seventh. Ruiz and Senzel homered before Abrams’ triple down the right field line scored Young from first. Senzel tacked on an RBI groundout in the ninth inning.
Miami went ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Arraez scored on Parker’s two-out wild pitch with the bases loaded. Washington pulled even in the third when Young scored on Bethancourt’s passed ball.
The Nationals earlier Saturday placed first baseman Joey Gallo on the 10-day IL with a shoulder sprain. Outfielder Alex Call was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move.
–Field Level Media