WASHINGTON (AP) — Lane Thomas got things started with a leadoff homer for the Washington Nationals, and they ended up with four solo shots in a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
The Nationals have the worst record in the majors and entered with an NL-low 122 homers — the AL's Detroit Tigers were at 91.
After Thomas hit his 16th of the season off Marlins starter Trevor Rogers — who left in the second inning with back muscle discomfort — Luke Voit took Jeff Brigham (0-1) deep in the third for his 21st.
Victor Robles then broke a 3-all tie by connecting off Brigham in the fourth for his fifth homer this year, and Alex Call's fourth homer came against Cole Sulser in the fifth. Add in an RBI double by Riley Adams in the second off Rogers, and Washington scored one run in each of the first five innings en route to a 5-3 lead.
Hunter Harvey (2-1) pitched a 1-2-3 fifth and was credited with the win. He was followed by fellow relievers Erasmo Ramírez, Carl Edwards Jr. and Kyle Finnegan, who collected his 10th save in 14 chances.
Rogers faced only seven batters, and threw just 32 pitches, departing after giving up consecutive doubles to Luis García and Adams to begin the second. Rogers walked off the mound toward the dugout with a trainer.
He has not won any of his past eight starts, dating to a win against Washington on July 1, and came off the injured list on Aug. 31 after dealing with back spasms.
Nationals starter Erick Fedde lasted four innings, allowing three runs and seven hits, including Jerar Encarnación's two-run shot in the fourth off a curveball. It was Encarnación's third homer since making his MLB debut in June.
Washington's season high for homers is five in an 8-5 victory against Cincinnati on June 3. Thomas had three that day.
The already-eliminated Marlins have lost seven of their prior nine games, including two in a row to the Nationals after entering this series 12-1 against Washington this season.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!
Nationals 2B García's second-inning double extended his on-base streak to 20 games, the longest current run in the majors.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: LHP MacKenzie Gore (elbow inflammation) threw 57 pitches across 2 2/3 scoreless innngs at Triple-A Rochester on Friday in his second rehab outing. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Gore’s velocity dropped from the 94-96 mph range to 93-94 mph in his last inning. ... DH Nelson Cruz (eye inflammation) was out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game.
UP NEXT
NL Cy Young Award contender Sandy Alcantara is 12-8 with a 2.43 ERA across a majors-leading 203 2/3 innings this season for the Marlins heading into Sunday's series finale. The Nationals will start RHP Aníbal Sánchez, who used to play for Miami. Sánchez is 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 2022.
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