Jesús Sánchez launched a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Janson Junk delivered the longest outing of his career as the Miami Marlins held off the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Saturday afternoon, clinching their sixth series victory of the season and first since late May.
Sánchez’s solo shot to right field against Nationals reliever Brad Lord proved to be the difference in a tense game that nearly unraveled in the ninth. The Marlins held a 4-1 lead entering the final frame, but the Nationals mounted a furious rally.
Reliever Anthony Bender struggled, allowing two runs — one on a wild pitch and another on a misplayed grounder — and loaded the bases with nobody out. But Miami’s bullpen clamped down. Bender got Amed Rosario to fly out to shallow left, and Calvin Faucher earned his seventh save by inducing top prospect James Wood to pop out to shortstop, sealing Miami’s second straight win.
It marked the first time the Marlins (27-41) have won back-to-back games since May 24-25, and it was their first series win since taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels from May 23-25.
Washington (30-40), meanwhile, dropped its seventh straight game, matching its longest losing streak of the season, previously set from May 6–13. The Nationals are now just 2-10 in June, averaging only 2.5 runs per game this month and surpassing the three-run mark just twice.
The game opened with both teams struggling to capitalize offensively. The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the second when Riley Adams drew a bases-loaded walk. Marlins catcher Liam Hicks tied it in the third with an RBI single off Washington starter Trevor Williams (3-8), who allowed one run through five innings but got little support from his offense.
The Marlins broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Hicks and Otto Lopez singled to open the inning, and after a fielder’s choice, Eric Wagaman delivered a two-out single to right off Lord, putting Miami up 2-1.
Sánchez extended the lead an inning later with his sixth homer of the year, and the Marlins tacked on a fourth run in the eighth when Nationals second baseman Luis García Jr. dropped Javier Sanoja’s routine pop-up, allowing Kyle Stowers to score.
The unsung hero of the afternoon was right-hander Janson Junk (1-0), who stabilized a Marlins pitching staff that used three arms to get through the first 2 1/3 innings. Junk allowed just two baserunners over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, earning his first win since July 27, 2022, when he was with the Angels.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, shortstop Otto Lopez hauled in a high pop-up to secure the final out as two teammates closed in on him, ending the game and averting a collapse.
The Nationals’ offensive woes continued as they managed just three runs for the third straight game. They’ve now scored fewer than four runs in 10 of 12 games this month.
The Marlins will go for a sweep on Sunday as they aim to build rare momentum in what’s been a trying season.
