After a fifth straight loss, the Nationals held a players-only meeting Wednesday.
“Let’s get this thing going. It’s do or die now,” Trea Turner said after the meeting.
The Nationals shortstop listened to his own command, as he hit two home runs and drove in eight runs Thursday as Washington defeated the Miami Marlins 14-12 in the biggest comeback in franchise history.
Washington trailed 9-0 going into the last of the fourth, when Turner hit a solo homer to make it 9-1. The Nationals scored four in the fifth and then five more in the sixth, as Turner hit his first career grand slam off reliever and losing pitcher Adam Conley to give the Nationals a lead of 10-9.
Turner had a two-run single as the Nationals scored four more in the seventh for a 14-9 bulge. The Marlins scored three in the eighth to make it 14-12 but Nationals closer got the save in the ninth after nearly getting hit by a line drive.
The comeback surpassed the April, 2015, game in Atlanta when the Nationals rallied from an 9-1 deficit to win 13-12 against the Braves as Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer in the ninth.
The third-place Nationals (43-43) had lost eight of nine games before the stunner Thursday before 24,314 fans on South Capitol Street.
Turner led the charge, as he has 11 homers this year and has hit nearly .400 over the last 15 games. First baseman Matt Adams, in his first game in the lineup since coming off the disabled list, was 4-for-5 and scored three runs.
Washington has won a team-record 12 in a row against the Marlins (36-53), a team that Nationals need to start beating if it has any hope of getting back into the postseason discussion.
Washington began the day seven games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves, who played Thursday night at Milwaukee.
It appeared the players-only meeting provided little motivation early Thursday as Washington starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson gave up nine runs (eight earned) in four innings as the Marlins jumped out to a huge lead.
Marlins first baseman Justin Bour, a product of George Mason University, launched a two-run homer off Hellickson in the fourth for a lead of 9-0. It was the 14th homer of the year for Bour, who annually torments the Nationals.
Hellickson yielded nine hits in four innings, part of a starting rotation that has been the worst in the majors over the last month. The starting pitchers for the Nationals are 1-15 since June 7.
But it was the Washington offense that came alive Thursday after the team had been blanked eight times since June 1.
Washington scored fifth in the fourth, with a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Adam Eaton, a fielder’s choice by Turner and a two-run double by rookie sensation Juan Soto, 19.
Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez, who was making his second big league start, allowed five runs in five innings.
More help could be on the way soon for the Nationals.
Catcher Matt Wieters, on the disabled list since May 11 with a left hamstring strain, could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend, according to manager Dave Martinez. Wieters ran the bases before Thursday’s game.
“He is doing well. Everything is looking good. We will see how he feels” Friday, Martinez said.
The rookie skipper said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has missed 48 games with a right oblique strain, may run the bases Friday and Saturday and could begin a minor league rehab assignment a few days later. He took batting practice on the field Thursday.
Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (6-6, 3.46 in 13 starts), on the disabled list since June 10 with a right shoulder inflammation, has been pitching in simulated games and Martinez hopes he returns around All-Star break. He is sorely needed as the rotation has struggled mightily since he went on the disabled list.
Earlier Thursday, pitcher Erick Fedde was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation after he left his start on Wednesday in the top of the second inning. Fedde has the only win by a Washington starter in the last month, and it took a 17-7 outburst to beat the Phillies on June 29.
His place on the roster was taken by right-hander Jefry Rodriguez was called up from Triple-A Syracuse. It is the fourth major league stint of the year for Rodriguez, who pitched one inning of relief of Hellickson on Thursday.
The Nationals host the Marlins on Friday at 7:05 p.m. with Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.37) facing right-hander Dan Straily (3-4, 4.70). Gonzalez has not won a game since May 28.
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