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The Miami Marlins started off the game with an easy ride, as they cruised to an early four-run lead thanks to some strong situational hitting and good pitching from starter Henderson Alvarez. Miami jumped on Jordan Zimmermann for four runs in the fourth inning. The Fish picked up five singles to plop four runs on the board against Zimmermann, who himself was looking to cruise to a pitcher's duel. Adeiny Hechavarria's baserunning mistake on an error receiving an outfield throw ended the inning, but not before the Fish staked a seemingly large, comfortable lead.
Alvarez, meanwhile, appeared to be on his way to a dominant start. He had collected two strikeouts and no walks with five hits allowed through five innings with no signs of problems, but the Marlins began warming up Chris Hatcher in the top of the sixth inning and brought him into the game at the bottom half of the frame. it was later found that Miami pulled Alvarez as a precaution with "right elbow tightness."
The Marlins bullpen subsequently collapsed. Through nine innings, the pen had given up the four-run lead in an ugly three-run frame in the sixth inning and a solo homer by Wilson Ramos off of A.J. Ramos in the seventh. Mike Dunn then almost threw the entire game away by walking two batters and eventually loading the bases with no one out. Facing Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, and Adam LaRoche, Dunn somehow induced a strikeout and a popup followed by a routine fly to end the inning with no damage done.
The two teams were scoreless and Miami's offense had run quiet until they faced Jerry Blevins in the tenth inning. Ed Lucas singled and Christian Yelich walked, leading to an eventual second and third situation after a Derek Dietrich sacrifice bunt. The Nationals intentionally walked Giancarlo Stanton, leading to the Casey McGehee single that broke the tie. Reed Johnson then doubled home two runs before pinch-hitter Donovan Solano came in and singled in the fourth run of the inning.
Steve Cishek entered the game and ran into some trouble but finished off a wild 8-5 win over the Nats.
Source: FanGraphs
Attendance: 24,830
Hero of the Game: Henderson Alvarez (0.215 WPA)
Goat of the Game: Chris Hatcher (-0.178 WPA)
Play of the Game: Wilson Ramos homered in the seventh inning. (-0.258 WPA)