Marlins upset Nationals, Max Scherzer to take series in 9-3 win

Miami put all their tools on display Saturday night with 11 hits, nine runs, and two stolen bases. José Ureña wins his first game of the season and he’s allowed three runs across 12 innings. The Marlins chased Max Scherzer out of the game after 5 ¹⁄₃ innings.

José Ureña: 6.0 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Max Scherzer: 5.1 IP, 7R (6ER), 11H, 0 BB, 9 K

The Marlins didn’t let Scherzer get out in front of them as Brian Anderson and Starlin Castro pushed across the Marlins’ first two runs in the first inning.

The Nats came back with their own production in the third inning. Victor Robles started things off with a double. A hit by pitch and a walk later and the Nats were in good position early on. Matt Adams would take advantage of this opportunity with a single to left field, scoring both runs.

Castro continued to add to the Marlins’ lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Curtis Granderson has had several timely home runs for the Marlins and he continued that streak with his third home run of the season in the fifth inning.

Washington scored another run in the fifth inning. There could’ve been more damage, but a nice throw from Anderson in right field caught Juan Soto at the plate.

In the sixth, an infield single from Rosell Herrera would plate two more runs and end Scherzer’s night.

The Fish did not look back after that.

Granderson’s second RBI of the night came off a sac fly (another run charged to the former NL Cy Young winner). Additional run production followed on a wild pitch in the seventh inning and a Neil Walker fielder’s choice in the eighth inning.

The Nationals weren’t able to get much of offense going off of the Marlins’ pitching. Ureña continued to pitch well and only gave up three runs on a Matt Adams two-run RBI single in the third and a Howie Kendrick single in the fifth (a Jorge Alfaro passed ball made one of the runs unearned).

The Marlins bullpen handled three innings of work and Tayron Guerrero shut the door on the Nats after a semi-shaky ninth inning. Guerrero still hasn’t given up a run in 2019.

Jon Berti made his Marlins debut. He drew a walk in his only at-bat, then created insurance with his baserunning, breaking up a double play and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Berti might be the veteran catalyst the team needed all along.

And with that win, the Marlins have won their first series of 2019!

This uncharacteristically big performance versus a proven ace comes in the Marlins’ first game under the direction of hitting coach Jeff Livesey. Mike Pagliarulo lost the job on Friday night.

Trevor Richards will be starting for the Marlins on Sunday as the team looks for its first series sweep of any kind since 2017. He’s matched up with Stephen Strasburg. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.

Nationals vs. Marlins box score (MLB.com)

Fish Picks answer key

1. Marlins

2. Under

3. Over

4. Yes

5. Marlins