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Marlins avoid 4-game sweep, squeak past Nationals

Happy Memorial Day! An excellent José Ureña start got the Marlins back in the win column.

MLB: Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins salvaged the final game from their series in Washington, D.C., slipping past the Nationals on Memorial Day, 3-2.

José Ureña pitched effectively, holding Washington to two runs in seven innings of work, tossing 80 pitches.

Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and six-time All-Star, took the hill Monday afternoon. The Marlins jumped on Scherzer in the third, as Neil Walker drove home Garrett Cooper, giving the Marlins a 1-0 advantage. He totaled three hits in the game.

The Nationals countered in the fifth. Ureña surrendered two runs on two hits, including a Scherzer RBI single to right.

Scherzer held the Marlins in check, allowing just one run in six innings, but due to his pitch count swelling to 103, his day came to a close early that Washington would’ve liked. Holding to a 2-1 lead, their bullpen—which has struggled heavily all season—coughed up a run in the seventh to the Marlins, as Harold Ramírez brought home Miguel Rojas.

Ureña’s hustle played a role in setting up that scoring opportunity.

In the eighth, facing former Marlin Kyle Barraclough, the Marlins re-gained the lead when Rojas’ sacrifice fly scored Starlin Castro.

In the home half of the eighth, the Nationals had the bases loaded with two down, but reliever Adam Conley retired Juan Soto. Sergio Romo pitched a perfect ninth inning to seal his tenth save of the season.

The Marlins were victorious Monday despite finishing 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

At 17-34, the Marlins closed the seven-game road trip at 4-3. After sweeping the Detroit Tigers to open, Miami fell to Washington Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The Marlins will now return home to host the San Francisco Giants. Two righties will open the series on Tuesday, as Trevor Richards—seeking his second victory of the season—will counter Jeff Samardzija. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.


Marlins vs. Nationals box score (Baseball Theater)

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