Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals

The game was a scoreless pitchers' duel through five innings. Marlins starter Ryan Gusto scattered five hits over four scoreless frames, while Nationals reliever Will Dion followed with three shutout innings of one-hit ball after Brad Lord worked 2.2 hitless to open the game.

Top 6th — Ruiz breaks the deadlock: Keibert Ruiz launched a one-out solo home run to right field off Tyler Zuber, his eighth of the season, putting the Nationals up 1-0. It was the first earned run Zuber had allowed since July 24, spanning 12 appearances.

Bot 8th — Marlins rally: Jakob Marsee led off with a triple to right-centre off Tom Cosgrove, Miami's second hit of the game. Sanoja followed with an RBI single to right field, tying it 1-1. After a walk and a strikeout, Otto Lopez punched a two-out single to right off Clayton Beeter, scoring Sanoja to give Miami a 2-1 lead.

Top 9th — Nationals answer: Pete Fairbanks, on for the save, walked Jacob Young, who stole second. With two outs, Daylen Lile — 3-for-5 on the night — singled to left, plating Young to tie the game 2-2. Fairbanks was charged with his fourth blown save of the season.

Bot 9th — Walk-off: Agustín Ramírez led off with a walk against Beeter (5-4). Esteury Ruiz reached on an infield single, and Beeter's throwing error on the play allowed both runners to advance to second and third. Marsee was intentionally walked to load the bases. Sanoja then lined a 1-0 pitch into centre field, scoring Ramírez for the 3-2 walk-off win.

Beeter's throwing error on Ruiz's infield hit in the ninth turned a manageable jam into a no-out, bases-loaded crisis. The error allowed Ramírez to reach third and Ruiz to move to second, eliminating the force at any base and forcing the Nationals to defend against a walk-off on any batted ball — which Sanoja supplied on the next pitch.

Javier Sanoja (MIA) — Player of the Match: Pinch-hit in the sixth, stayed in at third base, and delivered the game-tying RBI single in the eighth and the walk-off RBI single in the ninth. 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R.

Keibert Ruiz (WSH): 2-for-4, solo home run (8), RBI. Opened the scoring with his eighth homer of the season.

Will Dion (WSH): 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts. The Nationals' bullpen threw six shutout innings before the eighth imploded.

Daylen Lile (WSH): 3-for-5, RBI. His two-out single in the ninth off Fairbanks tied the game and extended the drama.

The Nationals out-hit the Marlins 9-6 but lost, a rarity that reflects the late-inning collapse. Washington's bullpen — six scoreless innings through seven — surrendered three runs on four hits over the final two frames. Miami drew seven walks to Washington's three, and the decisive ninth featured three walks plus a throwing error. The Nationals went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position; Miami went 3-for-10. Despite being out-hit, Miami posted a .455 OBP and made their opportunities count when it mattered most.

The Marlins improved to 65-64, moving a game over .500 for the first time since mid-July. They have now won six straight against Washington and eight of their last 10 overall. The Nationals fell to 61-69, losing for the sixth time in seven games — their grip on the fringes of the wild-card race loosening further.

Next up: The series continues Saturday (22 August) at loanDepot park, with Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-7, 5.80) opposing Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (6-9, 3.23).

A pitchers' duel turned into a bullpen chess match that Miami won with plate discipline and timely hitting. Sanoja's two-hit, two-RBI night was the difference, and the Marlins' sixth straight win in the rivalry underscores a clear momentum shift between these NL East clubs. Washington will rue Beeter's error and an offence that couldn't capitalise on nine hits.

• Date: 21 August 2026, 7:10 PM ET (23:10 UTC)
• Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL
• Competition: MLB, Season 2026
• Final Score: Miami Marlins 3-2 Washington Nationals
• Hits: WSH 9, MIA 6
• Errors: WSH 1 (Beeter), MIA 0

• Winning Pitcher: Pete Fairbanks (4-4) — 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (BS, 4)
• Losing Pitcher: Clayton Beeter (5-4) — 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Home Runs: Keibert Ruiz (8)