MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched nine scoreless innings, Jesús Aguilar hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Wednesday night.
Alcantara extended his scoreless string to 18 innings and has completed at least eight innings in four of his past five starts. The 26-year-old allowed six hits and struck out six while lowering his ERA to 1.61.
“I think it’s my positive mentality,” Alcantara said. “I just want to go out and compete. Sometimes you have bad days, like me. But you can’t worry about it because I know I can do better the next time.”
Aguilar’s smash against reliever Tanner Rainey (1-2) deflected off second base and rolled into center field, scoring Willians Astudillo from second. Astudillo’s run-scoring single to right scored automatic runner Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second to tie it.
For the Marlins, it was their first series victory since winning two-of-three against the Nationals May 16-18.
“It was a very emotional moment that we were able to win,” Aguilar said.
Chisholm originally was called out, but the Marlins successfully appealed that he beat right-fielder Juan Soto’s throw. But the play was overturned because Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz blocked Chisholm’s path to the plate.
“We catch a break and it seems like we haven’t caught a break in these kinds of games all year,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “The baseball gods were looking out for us tonight.”
Ruiz’s RBI single against Tanner Scott (2-1) in the top half put Washington ahead 1-0.
“That was a great game tonight,” Alcantara said. “Both teams were fighting.”
Nationals starter Josiah Gray pitched five scoreless innings but was lifted after a season-high 101 pitches. Gray allowed six…
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