Marlins Complete Series Sweep Over Nationals with 3-1 Victory
Eric Wagaman's two RBIs and Dane Meyers' solo home run propelled the Miami Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, completing a three-game series sweep.
Nick Fortes contributed significantly with three hits, including a double, and crossed home plate once for the Marlins.
Meyers ignited the scoring in the second inning, launching a home run off Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore (3-6), which shifted the score to 2-1 in favor of Miami. Wagaman later extended the lead with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, solidifying the Marlins' advantage at 3-1.
Earlier in the game, Wagaman's sacrifice fly in the first inning brought Agustín Ramírez home. The Nationals equalized when Alex Call scored on a groundout by Luis García Jr., making it 1-1 as they headed into the second inning.
In a tense bottom of the ninth, Freddy Tarnok forced Keibert Ruiz to ground out. Following that, José Tena was hit by a pitch, but Call, representing the potential tying run, grounded into a double play, sealing the game for Miami. This marked Tarnok's first save of the season.
Miami maintained a precarious one-run lead during a critical moment in the fifth inning when Washington had runners at the corners with one out. Reliever Lake Bachar (3-0) skillfully induced Josh Bell to ground into a double play, extinguishing the Nationals' threat.
Over their last nine games, the Marlins have recorded 11 hits, leading the National League with 92 hits and a .280 batting average during this stretch.
Looking ahead, Sandy Alcantara (3-7, 7.14 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Miami on Monday against Mick Abel (1-0, 2.35) as they begin a four-game series at home against Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Washington's Jake Irvin (5-3, 4.21) will face Colorado's Carson Palmquist (0-4, 7.77) in their own four-game series opener.
