MIAMI — Jorge Soler hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game, and the Miami Marlins held off the Washington Nationals for a 4-3 win Wednesday night.
With the Marlins trailing 2-1, Luis Arraez led off the fourth with a single before Soler sent MacKenzie Gore’s first pitch to left-center for his 11th home run of the season.
That came a day after Soler drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for a 5-4 win in the series opener for his first career walk-off shot.
Bryan De La Cruz gave Miami a two-run cushion in the sixth with an RBI double against Gore (3-3). Andres Machado replaced Gore and retired Jean Segura on a flyout and struck out Yuli Gurriel to end the inning. De La Cruz stretched his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games.
Washington pulled within 4-3 in the seventh. Corey Dickerson led off the inning with a single against Andrew Nardi, and Ildemaro Vargas singled in the next at-bat off JT Chargois. A throwing error by shortstop Jon Berti advanced the runners before Alex Call drove in Dickerson on a ground out. Chargois then struck out CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas to end the threat.
Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season.
Gore gave up five hits, four runs, struck out seven and walked three.
Dickerson, a designated hitter Wednesday, blasted a two-run shot 433 feet to right field for a 2-0 lead in the first. It was Dickerson’s first at-bat since going on the injured list in April with a left calf strain.
That was also the only damage allowed by Miami starter Edward Cabrera (3-3). He gave up five hits, struck out six and walked none in five innings.
A sacrifice fly by Gurriel in the second made it 2-1 and scored De La Cruz, who walked and advanced on a wild pitch earlier in the inning.
Segura had his second straight multi-hit game with a single in the first and a triple in the fifth.
MILESTONE
In his 428th career game, Arraez had his 500th career hit with a leadoff double in the eighth.
ANÍBAL SÀNCHEZ HONORED
Aníbal Sánchez threw the game’s ceremonial first pitch. The veteran right-hander retired Tuesday after 16 major league seasons. Sánchez spent his first seven years with Miami and six seasons with Detroit before playing the past three seasons in Washington. He was an 11-game winner in 2019 when the Nationals won the World Series.
ROSTER MOVE
Washington recalled infielder/outfielder Jake Alu from Triple-A Rochester and placed first baseman/designated hitter Joey Meneses on the paternity list on Wednesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: LHP Sean Doolittle (left elbow surgery) threw another live batting practice session. According to manager Dave Martinez, when Doolittle is ready for back-to-back days, he will be sent to rehab outings.
Marlins: LHP Trevor Rogers (left biceps strain) is scheduled to throw a 25-pitch bullpen Wednesday or Thursday.
UP NEXT
RHP Eury Perez (0-0, 3.86) will make his second major league start against Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (1-1, 4.23).
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