Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals

Miami's immediate response in the bottom of the fourth — Marsee's solo homer — was critical. After Washington had cut the lead to 3-1 and seemed to have momentum, the 22-year-old centre fielder restored the three-run margin on the very first pitch of the inning, preventing the Nationals from applying further pressure.

• Eury Pérez (MIA): W (7-9), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 4 K. The 23-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.23. He has now gone nine consecutive starts without allowing a home run, dating back to June 30. (Source: DraftKings Nation)
• Otto Lopez (MIA): 2-RBI single in the first inning. The second baseman also made a throwing error in the fourth but the mistake did not prove costly.
• Jakob Marsee (MIA): 2-for-4, HR (7), RBI, SB. The rookie centre fielder added a solo homer in the fourth and a single in the sixth.
• Calvin Faucher (MIA): S (2), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R. Retired the side in order in the ninth to close out the win.
• Dylan Crews (WSH): 1-for-4, 2B, RBI. The Nationals' rookie drove in the team's second run with a fifth-inning double.

Miami out-hit Washington 7-3 and the game featured just one extra-base hit from the Nationals (Crews' double). The Marlins' 7 hits came from seven different players, reflecting a spread-the-wealth approach rather than reliance on one bat. Washington's offence managed only three hits against four Marlins pitchers, a season-low output for a club that entered the day second in MLB in OPS (.758) and first in total runs scored. (Source: DraftKings Nation)

Both teams went to their bullpens early — Pérez at exactly 100 pitches through five innings, Irvin at 6.0 IP — and Miami's relief corps held firm. The Nationals' relievers (Erik Tolman, Jake Bird) threw three scoreless innings but their offence could not mount a late comeback.

The Marlins improved to 66-64, keeping them within striking distance of the NL Wild Card race. The Nationals fell to 61-70, 9.5 games out of a postseason spot with 31 games remaining. Miami has now won two straight against Washington in this series. The finale is Sunday at loanDepot Park.

Miami's next game is the series finale against Washington on Sunday, August 23. The Nationals travel to face the New York Mets after this series.

A textbook home win: score early, pitch well enough, and let the bullpen close the door. Pérez was efficient enough through five, the bullpen spotless behind him, and the offence did just enough damage to Irvin in the early innings. For Washington, the lineup that has carried them all season continues to struggle without injured sluggers James Wood and CJ Abrams.