By Associated Press - Wednesday, August 25, 2021

MIAMI — Jorge Alfaro hit a game-winning single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Right fielder Jesús Sánchez threw out automatic runner Carter Kieboom at home plate as he attempted to score from second on Austin Riley’s single in the top of the 10th.

Sánchez was placed on second base to begin the bottom half and advanced to third on Lewis Brinson’s sacrifice bunt against reliever Kyle Finnegan (4-5). Brian Anderson and Isan Díaz were intentionally walked before Alfaro’s smash got past shortstop Alcides Escobar into center field.

Dylan Floro (5-4) pitched the 10th for the Marlins, who won for the first time since defeating the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Aug. 15.

Josh Bell and Yadiel Hernández homered in a three-run seventh that erased a 2-0 deficit for Washington in the major league debut of touted Miami starter Edward Cabrera.

Bell drove Cabrera’s changeup to center field for a two-run shot and his 20th homer of the season. Hernández followed with a drive to left that put the Nationals ahead 3-2.

Miami tied it in the bottom half against reliever Andres Machado. Magneuris Sierra hit a leadoff triple and scored on Jesús Aguilar’s one-out double.

Cabrera limited the Nationals to two hits through the first six innings. The 23-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, rated the No. 2 prospect in Miami’s system and 30th overall in baseball by MLB Pipeline, pitched 6 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs, four hits and three walks, striking out two.

Washington rookie starter Josiah Gray was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner on July 30, Gray scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked three.

The Marlins struck first on Alfaro’s RBI single in the second and increased their advantage on Anderson’s solo homer in the sixth.

The second-inning lead was Miami’s first since the fourth inning at Cincinnati on Aug. 19.

ROSTER MOVE

The Marlins designated RHP Bryan Mitchell for assignment to clear a roster spot for Cabrera.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Tanner Rainey (left side discomfort) is targeted for a call-up from Triple-A once he resumes throwing and appears in games.

Marlins: RHP Pablo López (right rotator cuff strain) will make his second rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Jacksonville.

UP NEXT

LHP Patrick Corbin (7-12, 5.82 ERA) pitches the series finale for the Nationals on Thursday against RHP Elieser Hernández (0-1, 4.15).

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