Nationals blow game open in third inning

The days of the Miami Marlins using the Washington Nationals as a punching bag seem to be over.

After losing 8-1 to the Nats on Friday night, the Marlins are 0-5 against their division rival. In 2022 and 2023, the Marlins inflated their win totals by going a combined 26-6 against Washington.

The Nationals, who came into Friday’s game at 32-36 and just two games back of the National League wild card, are experiencing their best season since beginning their rebuild in 2021. While still not world-beaters, they began their weekend series in somewhat dominating fashion, taking advantage of recent pitching call-up Shaun Anderson.

The 29-year-old is filling the Marlins rotation spot vacated by Ryan Weathers, who was put on the 15-day injured list on June 8 for a strained left index finger. Anderson was traded from the Texas Rangers at the end of May for cash considerations where he made two relief appearances. But the right-hander hadn’t started a game at the major league level since he was with the San Francisco Giants in 2019.

Anderson tiptoed through trouble in the first inning, with right fielder Dane Myers, second baseman Otto Lopez and third baseman Emmanuel Rivera completing a 9-4-5 relay to throw out CJ Abrams on an attempted leadoff triple. He then threw a scoreless second inning.

But the American Heritage High School alumnus imploded in the third. He allowed the first two batters to reach base before Lane Thomas struck a three-run home run off the left field foul pole.

It didn’t get any better from there.

Jesse Winker hit a single, Eddie Rosario hit a double, Joey Meneses hit a two-RBI single, and Luis García Jr. hit a single. Anderson did not record an out before he was pulled for Huascar Brazoban.

The Nationals put up 10 hits and seven runs against Anderson, the final two scoring on Abrams' single.

The lone Marlins run came in the second inning when Nick Fortes drove home Tim Anderson on an infield single. 

TA had a three-hit night. He’s 9-for-16 since returning from the bereavement list on June 11, raising his batting average from .188 to .221 in the process.