Xavier Edwards sliced a walk-off single to center as the host Miami Marlins defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
It was Miami’s first win against Washington this year (1-8).
Griffin Conine, the automatic runner, scored from third after he had moved over on Nick Fortes’ groundout to second. Washington (62-77) then moved the infield in to try to get Conine at the plate, but Edwards’ liner off reliever Derek Law (7-3) foiled that strategy.
Both starting pitchers were left with no-decisions despite pitching exceptionally well.
Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, who was perfect through 5 1/3 innings, allowed one run on one hit and one walk in six innings, striking out nine.
Marlins rookie Valente Bellozo pitched six-plus scoreless innings. Even though he struck out just one batter, Bellozo allowed just three hits and two walks. He got 12 outs in the air.
Gore’s perfect game was broken up in the sixth inning by Conine, who drew a walk on a 3-2 curve that barely missed the strike zone.
Conine, the son of former Marlins star Jeff Conine, then scored from first when the next batter, Fortes, got a curve and doubled down the left field line.
The Marlins (52-87) extended their lead to 2-0 in the seventh as Jonah Bride drew a walk and scored from first on Otto Lopez’s two-out double to right-center.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker brought in reliever Mike Baumann to start the eighth inning, and that move backfired.
Baumann allowed the only three batters he faced to reach base as Keibert Ruiz walked, Jacob Young doubled and Dylan Crews drew another free pass to load the bases.
Closer Calvin Faucher entered the game, but he allowed all three inherited runners to score. Jose Tena drew an RBI walk and Andres Chaparro hit a run-scoring groundout before rookie James Wood went the other way for an RBI double and a 3-2 Nationals lead.
Miami tied the score 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth. After two outs to start the inning, reliever Jose Ferrer allowed singles to Edwards and Connor Norby. Closer Kyle Finnegan entered the game, but his 97-mph fastball was pulled by Jake Burger for an RBI single to left.
–Field Level Media
