On Friday, the Miami Marlins were looking to take Game 2 in a must-win 4-game set against the Washington Nationals.

The Marlins started the scoring in the top of the first with a lead-off single by Luis Arraez, followed by a 2-out RBI single by Jazz Chisholm Jr. The bottom of the first was an up and down start to the game for rookie phenom Eury Pérez. Pérez gave up a lead-off solo shot to CJ Abrams to get the Nationals on the board. Pérez was then able to get out of the inning by striking out the side despite walking a couple in the 27-pitch first.

In the top of the third, the Marlins managed to get the bases loaded with nobody out and were able to take a 3-1 lead on a Jake Burger sac fly and a Jazz RBI fielder’s choice. Better than nothing, but struggles to hit with runners in scoring position continue to be a theme for the Miami lineup.

In the bottom half of the third, the Nats hit two more solo shots off Eury Perez to tie the game up back at 3-3. The first homer was off the bat of Lane Thomas hitting his 21st long ball of the season. The second solo shot was from recently called up Travis Blankenhorn. In his Nats debut, Blankenhorn hits his first homer since 2021 and only his second round-tripper of his career.

Most of the damage against Eury Pérez during his rookie season has come on homers, but it helps that 12 out of his 13 have come with nobody on base. That night ended in the fifth with a final line of 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K’s. Steven Okert was able to finish off the inning with a strikeout to Carter Kieboom.

Recently removed from the closer’s role, David Robertson came into the sixth inning and had one his more promising innings of work in a Marlins uniform. After walking the second batter he faced, he then proceeded to strike out Jacob Young and CJ Abrams to finish the inning. The Marlins are hoping that Robertson can salvage his short but bad tenure with Miami in this new middle relief role.

Neither Miami nor Washington were able to score again until the 10th inning. With one out and runners on second and third, Josh Bell hit a sharp grounder to a diving CJ Abrams. Abrams couldn’t stop Xavier Edwards from coming home, but he saved another run by keeping it in the infield and getting Arraez out at third.

In the bottom of the 10th, Tanner Scott came in trying to earn the save for the Fish, but gave up an RBI single to Lane Thomas to extend the game another inning.

The Marlins were able to blow it open in the top of the 11th with back-to-back RBI singles from Bryan De La Cruz and Jon Berti followed by a two-run bomb from Garrett Hampson.

Tanner Scott came back out to finish off the game for the Fish. Going two full innings, this was Scott’s longest outing of the season.

Marlins now move to 68-67, and 2.5 games back of the Giants for the third wildcard spot, keeping hope for a 2023 playoff run alive.

Miami will try and win the series on Saturday in a 4:05 pm day game. They will face Trevor Williams for the second time in a week, whereas Miami’s starter has yet to be announced.

Game Notes

-Bullpen did a phenomenal job with 6.1 innings with 0 earned runs (two unearned runs scored via automatically placed runners in extras).

–George Soriano now has the lowest ERA by a Marlins reliever (min.35 IP) with a 2.50 ERA, according to FOF’s Louis Addeo-Weiss.

-Jazz Chisholm Jr. is batting .333 with 2 home runs and a double since changing his stance on 8/29.