Well, the winning record was fun while it lasted. The Nats have now spoiled a 31-29 record by losing the first two at home this week to the Marlins with their second consecutive 7-3 loss. It was the home runs tonight that did Washington in, as Miles Mikolas allowed three of them over six innings of work, and Mitchell Parker allowed one in the ninth inning. Offensively, it was another rough night for the good guys as the Marlins’ bullpen executed an excellent bullpen game, clinching them at least two out of three in this midweek series.

The Action

This one was a battle between openers, as Richard Lovelady took the first turn on the bump for the Nats against Miami’s opener, Lake Bachar. The first inning went by uneventfully, as both teams went 1-2-3, but the Marlins would mount the game’s first rally in the top half of the second inning. Lovelady got himself into trouble in the second, loading the bases with two outs on three walks, giving the Marlins’ rookie catcher, Joe Mack, an opportunity to get the game started strong for his team. Richard bounced back strong though, locking in and getting a big strikeout to get his team off the field and the scoreboard still locked at zero.

Miles Mikolas took over in the third inning after Lovelady’s two scoreless, and it wasn’t until the fifth inning that we saw any action on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Lake Bachar did an excellent job over the first 2.2 innings of the ballgame, as him, John King, and Ryan Gusto held the Nationals hitless over the first five frames.

The Marlins jumped on the board first in the top of the fifth, as Joe Mack redeemed himself for that second inning strikeout with his first career major league homer, a two-run shot to put Miami ahead 2-0. Unfortunately the damage was far from done. The very next batter, Heriberto Hernandez, followed with a bomb of his own, and THEN it was Otto Lopez doing the same, making it back to back to back home runs to put the Marlins ahead 4-0.

The Nationals finally got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Drew Millas lined a single to right field. That quickly became a rally opportunity as Jacob Young followed with a single of his own, before a James Wood flyout accounted for the first out of the inning. The Nats did at least break through on the scoreboard in the inning, getting one on a groundball by Luis Garcia, but that would be all as the inning ended 4-1.

They got even closer in the seventh inning, as a groundball on the infield by Dylan Crews was aided by a throwing error from Marlins’ third baseman, Leo Jimenez. CJ Abrams came around to score on the play, cutting the lead to 4-2. The Nationals got another run closer later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Keibert Ruiz, but stranded the tying run on third base when Jose Tena struck out to end the inning.

They had another golden opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth as Luis Garcia tripled with one out to set the Nats up with the tying run on third and one out. An infield pop fly by Curtis Mead and a strikeout by CJ Abrams would quickly snuff out the rally, and send us to the ninth inning with the score still 4-3.

Miami got all over Mitchell Parker in the ninth inning, picking up some much-needed insurance on a squeeze bunt by Joe Mack that brought a run in, punctuated by a two-run homer from Hernandez, his second of the night, to make it 7-3. That would end up being the final margin as the Nationals went quietly in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the game and the series to Miami, and putting them in a position where they have to win tomorrow to avoid the sweep.

What’s Next?

This three-game set will conclude tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch coming our way at 1:05. The Nationals will send Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 4.02 ERA) to the bump, looking to improve from what was a rocky outing last Friday night against the Padres. He’ll be opposed by Max Meyer (5-0, 2.97 ERA), who has been lights out for the better part of this season. This one is about as must-win as a rebuilding team with minimal expectations can possibly have in the month of June, as with all the momentum that’s been built over the last few weeks, it would be a shame to see that fly out the window with a sweep by Miami.

Down on the Farm

AAA Rochester

• 8-7 win tonight at Lehigh Valley (10 innings)
• Riley Cornelio: 2 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts (4.87 ERA)
• Christian Franklin: 1-3, 2 walks (.266 BA, .749 OPS)
• YoYo Morales: 2-5, home run (13), 3 RBIs (.344 BA, 1.016 OPS)
• Brady House: 2-5, RBI (.317 BA, .967 OPS)
• Abi Ortiz: 1-4, double, RBI, walk (.265 BA, .899 OPS)
• Seaver King: 1-5, home run (3), 2 RBIs (.311 BA, .960 OPS)
• Tomorrow: 6:45 game at Lehigh Valley (Chandler Champlain pitching)

AA Harrisburg

• 4-3 loss tonight versus Somerset
• Alex Clemmey: 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts (4.14 ERA)
• Maxwell Romero: 1-4, home run (8), RBI (.292 BA, 1.013 OPS)
• Kervin Pichardo: 1-3, double (.255 BA, .762 OPS)
• Tomorrow: 6:30 game versus Somerset (Kyle Luckham pitching)

High-A Wilmington

• 10-2 loss tonight versus Bowling Green
• Gavin Bruni: 3 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout (8.13 ERA)
• Ronny Cruz: 1-3, double, walk (.215 BA, .618 OPS)
• Ethan Petry: 1-4, double, RBI (.309 BA, .957 OPS)
• Angel Feliz: 2-4 (.232 BA, .664 OPS)
• TJ White: 2-4 (.248 BA, .838 OPS)
• Tomorrow: 6:35 game versus Bowling Green (Riley Maddox pitching)

Low-A Fredericksburg

• 3-2 win tonight versus Hill City
• Luke Johnson: 4 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts (3.89 ERA)
• Eli Willits: 1-5, double (.287 BA, .862 OPS)
• Gavin Fien: 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 walks (.186 BA, .584 OPS)
• Coy James: 2-3, walk (.216 BA, .747 OPS)
• Tomorrow: 6:35 game versus Hill City (Mikey Tepper pitching)