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Nationals walk off Marlins 5-4 in 10th after Marlins rally from 4-0 deficit
Washington Nationals 5-4 Miami Marlins (10 innings): Marlins rally from 4-0 down in the seventh but Nationals walk off in extra innings. Heriberto Hernandez homers. Cade Cavalli strikes out 8.
Nationals 5-4 Marlins (10 innings): Washington walks off after Miami erases 4-0 deficit
Washington — The Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday at Nationals Park, after the Marlins erased a four-run deficit with a four-run seventh inning only to see the Nationals walk off in the bottom of the 10th.
Orlando Ribalta (1-2) earned the win with a scoreless 10th inning, striking out two. Michael Petersen (3-4) took the loss for Miami.
How it unfolded
Washington struck first with a four-run third inning against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara. Dylan Crews delivered an infield single that scored Daylen Lile and Jose Tena, with Crews advancing to second on a throwing error by catcher Joe Mack. Brady House singled to drive in Crews, and Jorbit Vivas doubled to score House, making it 4-0.
Miami's offence was stifled through six innings by Nationals starter Cade Cavalli and reliever Erik Tolman. Cavalli threw four scoreless innings, striking out eight while allowing no hits and three walks.
The turning point
The Marlins broke through in the seventh. Pinch-hitters Leonardo Jimenez and Agustin Ramirez reached on a single and a walk. Kyle Stowers doubled to deep right-centre, scoring both runners and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Two batters later, Heriberto Hernandez crushed a two-run homer to left-centre, tying the game 4-4.
Both bullpens held through the eighth and ninth innings. In the 10th, Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez began as the ghost runner on second base. After two quick outs, a sequence of plays — including a walk — set the stage for the winning run to score.
Key performers
- Heriberto Hernandez (Marlins): 1-for-5, HR (22), 2 RBI. His seventh-inning homer tied the game.
- Kyle Stowers (Marlins): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB. His double started the comeback.
- Cade Cavalli (Nationals): 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K. Dominant start despite a short outing.
- Sandy Alcantara (Marlins): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. Battled through early traffic but held after the third.
By the numbers
The Nationals out-hit the Marlins 9-6. Miami's four-run seventh was their only real offensive output — they managed just two other hits across the other nine innings. Washington struck out 12 times but drew five walks, manufacturing enough baserunners to capitalise in the third and 10th.
What it means
The Marlins fell to 68-68, dropping back to .500 after losing for the second straight day to the Nationals. Washington improved to 65-73, winning consecutive games for the first time since mid-August. Miami continues its road trip Sunday in the series finale against the Nationals before heading to Philadelphia.
Verdict
A familiar pattern for the 2026 Marlins — solid starting pitching undone by one bad inning, followed by a rally that ultimately falls short in extras. Cavalli's four-inning, eight-strikeout start was the Nationals' foundation, and Miami could not solve him early. The Marlins now sit .500 with 26 games remaining.