Alfaro lifts Marlins over Nationals 4-3 in 10 to end 8-game streak
MIAMI – Jorge Alfaro hit a bases-loaded winning single in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Right fielder Jesús Sánchez knocked out automatic runner Carter Kieboom at home plate as he tried to score from second on an Austin Riley single in the top of the 10th.
Sanchez was moved to second base to start the bottom half and advanced to third on a Lewis Brinson sacrifice bunt against reliever Kyle Finnegan (4-5). Brian Anderson and Isan Diaz were intentionally walked before Alfaro’s hit passed shortstop Alcides Escobar to center field.
Dylan Floro (5-4) pitched the 10th for the Marlins, who won for the first time since defeating the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on August 15.
Josh Bell and Yadiel Hernandez homered in a three-run seventh that erased a 2-0 deficit for Washington in the major league debut of acclaimed Miami starter Edward Cabrera.
Bell drove Cabrera’s trade to center field for a two-run shot and his 20th home run of the season. Hernandez followed up with a push to the left that put the Nationals ahead 3-2.
Miami tied in the lower half against reliever Andrés Machado. Magneuris Sierra hit an opening triple and scored on a double by Jesús Aguilar.
Cabrera limited the Nationals to two hits in the first six innings. The 23-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, ranked No. 2 in the Miami system and 30th overall in baseball by MLB Pipeline, pitched 6 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs, four hits and three walks, striking out two.
Washington’s rookie starter Josiah Gray was replaced by a pinch hitter in the seventh. Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner on July 30, Gray had five hits, struck out seven and walked three.
The Marlins scored first on an RBI single by Alfaro in the second and increased their lead over Anderson’s solo homer in the sixth.
The advantage of the second inning was Miami’s first since the fourth inning at Cincinnati on Aug. 19.
TEMPLATE MOVEMENT
The Marlins designated RHP Bryan Mitchell for assignment to clear a spot on the roster for Cabrera.
COACH ROOM
Nationals: RHP Tanner Rainey (left side upset) is the target of a call from Triple-A once he resumes pitching and appears in games.
Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (right rotator cuff strain) will make his second rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Jacksonville.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
LZ Patrick Corbin (7-12, 5.82 ERA) launches the series finale for the Nationals on Thursday against LD Elieser Hernández (0-1, 4.15).
