Jakob Marsee delivered a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, propelling the Miami Marlins to an 8-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday in Miami.
May 9, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) is called out trying to steal second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards (9) applies the tag in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Trailing 4-4, Kyle Stowers led off the eighth with a single off Mitchell Parker (2-1), and Connor Norby walked. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Marsee crushed a pitch to right field for a three-run homer. Esteury Ruiz followed with a double, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leo Jimenez, extending the lead to 8-4.
In the top of the ninth, Washington mounted a comeback. Drew Millas singled home Jose Tena, who had doubled off Michael Petersen. James Wood doubled, moving Millas to third, and Luis Garcia Jr. singled both home, cutting the deficit to 8-7. Garcia advanced to second on the throw. After Jorbit Vivas grounded into a fielder’s choice, John King entered and retired CJ Abrams on a flyout to earn his first save.
Miami’s Xavier Edwards tied the game 4-4 with a two-out homer off Parker in the seventh, his second home run in as many games.
Stowers finished with three hits, including a home run, for the Marlins, who had lost five of their previous six games.
Andrew Nardi (3-2) pitched one scoreless inning to earn the win.
Garcia collected three hits, while Wood homered and doubled for Washington, which had won three straight.
Wood opened the game by launching a 3-2 pitch into the second deck in right-center for his 11th home run. Garcia singled, and Brady House doubled him to third. Abrams then grounded a single through the drawn-in infield, scoring both runners to put Washington up 3-0.
Abrams tripled with one out in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daylen Lile, making it 4-0.
Miami answered in the fourth. Otto Lopez reached on an infield single, and Stowers homered to right, cutting the lead to 4-2.
In the sixth, Norby reached on a throwing error by Abrams, stole second and third, and scored on Owen Caissie’s sacrifice fly, pulling Miami within 4-3.
Washington opener Richard Lovelady tossed two scoreless innings, followed by Zack Littell, who worked four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
Miami starter Janson Junk went six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.
