The Miami Marlins continued their winning ways Wednesday afternoon, riding another stellar outing from Max Meyer and a timely hit from rookie catcher Joe Mack to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Nationals and a three-game series sweep.
Meyer delivered seven strong innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out seven batters. The right-hander improved to 6-0 on the season and remained unbeaten through his first 13 starts, matching a franchise record established by Liván Hernández during the Marlins’ memorable 1997 campaign.
Miami’s offense was held in check for much of the afternoon before breaking through in the eighth inning. With the game tied 1-1 and the bases loaded with two outs, Mack came through with the biggest hit of the game, lining a two-run single into right-center field off Washington reliever Clayton Beeter. The clutch knock gave the Marlins a 3-1 lead and provided all the cushion the bullpen would need.
The Marlins struck first in the second inning when Esteury Ruiz launched a solo home run to give Miami a 1-0 advantage. Washington answered in the third, capitalizing on a defensive miscue. With the bases loaded and one out, Nationals rookie Dylan Crews hit a ground ball up the middle that shortstop Otto Lopez couldn’t handle, allowing the tying run to score. Lopez was charged with an error, though he quickly redeemed himself by turning an inning-ending double play on the next batter, Curtis Mead.
Washington had opportunities to gain momentum thanks to several impressive defensive plays by second baseman Nasim Nuñez. In the fifth inning, Nuñez made a heads-up throw to third base on a ground ball up the middle, catching Connor Norby trying to advance. The play was upheld after a replay review.
Nuñez came through again in the eighth after Beeter loaded the bases with a single by Xavier Edwards, a walk to Liam Hicks, and an infield bunt single by Jakob Marsee. Following a strikeout of Owen Caissie, Nuñez fielded another ground ball up the middle and fired home for the second out, seemingly helping Washington escape the jam.
The Marlins catcher delivered a sharp liner into the gap moments later, driving home two runs and turning a tense tie game into a Miami lead.
Kyle Stowers added an insurance run in the ninth inning, ripping a run-scoring triple to extend the advantage to 4-1.
Miami’s bullpen took care of the rest. Calvin Faucher worked a scoreless eighth inning before Pete Fairbanks closed the door in the ninth for his seventh save in nine opportunities.
The victory capped an impressive sweep for the Marlins, who have now won three consecutive games after enduring an inconsistent stretch that included a three-game losing streak, a four-game winning streak, and another five-game skid.
For Washington, Beeter (1-1) absorbed the loss after failing to escape the eighth-inning jam despite getting within one out of preserving the tie.
Both clubs are off Thursday. Miami returns home Friday to begin a series against the Tampa Bay Rays with Tyler Phillips (0-1) scheduled to start, while the Nationals head to Arizona, where Foster Griffin (6-2) is expected to take the mound against the Diamondbacks.
