It was on April 28, 2015, that Dan Uggla, then a second baseman for the Nationals, hit a three-run homer in the ninth in Atlanta against his former team as Washington came back from a 9-1 deficit to win 13-12.
On Thursday night at Nationals Park it was another middle infielder, Trea Turner, who had a big night at the plate as Washington stormed back after trailing 9-0 for a 14-12 victory over the Miami Marlins.
It was the biggest comeback in franchise history since 2005 for the Nationals, who snapped a five-game losing streak in historic fashion. Washington has now won a franchise-record 12 games in a row over the last-place Marlins.
Turner had three hits, including two home runs, and drove in a career-high eight runs. He became the first leadoff hitter in Nationals history to hit two homers with at least six RBI in a game, according to STATS, Inc.
“Once we got that first run on the board we got momentum back on our side,” said North Carolina State product Turner, who had not been part of such a comeback at the pro or college level. “It’s really special.”
And it was Turner who put that first run on the board with a solo homer in the fourth inning.
The right-handed hitter then hit a grand slam in the sixth inning as the Nationals scored five runs to take a lead of 10-9.
Turner raised his average to .280 and has 11 homers.
“Keep it simple and put a good swing on the fastball,” he said of his recent tear.
“Trea had an unbelievable day,” said Dave Martinez, the Nationals manager. “For me, he’s an All-Star. Hope he makes it.” The All-Star game will be July 17 at Nationals Park and Turner is making a late push, hitting about .390 in his last 15 games.
The Nationals also got offensive support from first baseman Matt Adams, who was 4-for-5 with three runs scored in his first start since coming off the disabled list Wednesday.
Left fielder Juan Soto had two hits and drove in three runs and Michael A. Taylor had two hits and drove in three. Backup catcher Spencer Kieboom, who has been sick for days, came off the bench and had an RBI single in his only at-bat.
The Nationals had 14 runs on 12 hits while the Marlins had 12 runs on 14 hits.
And the hosts didn’t get any hits from cleanup man Bryce Harper, who was 0-for-3 with two walks and one run scored as his average fell to .213.
“Good comeback, very good comeback,” Martinez said.
The outburst came after a players-only meeting after a loss at home Wednesday to the Boston Red Sox.
“We have been playing well. The boys took a little ownership,” Martinez said of the meeting.
The win came at a good time but the Nationals, who are now six games back of the first-place Braves after Atlanta lost against Milwaukee on Thursday.
“We just have to take it one game at a time,” Adams said. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
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