Alcantara pitches gem as Marlins outlast Nats

Sandy Alcantara pitched nine scoreless innings, Jesús Aguilar hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 on Wednesday night in Miami.

Alcantara extended his scoreless string to 18 innings and has completed at least eight innings in four of his past five starts. The 26-year-old allowed six hits and struck out six while lowering his ERA to 1.61.

“I think it’s my positive mentality,” Alcantara said. “I just want to go out and compete.”

Aguilar’s smash against reliever Tanner Rainey (1-2) deflected off second base and rolled into center field, scoring Willians Astudillo from second. Astudillo’s run-scoring single to right scored automatic runner Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second to tie it.

For the Marlins, it was their first series victory since winning two of three against the Nationals on May 16-18.

Nationals starter Josiah Gray pitched five scoreless innings, but was lifted after a seasonhigh 101 pitches. Gray allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six.

Meanwhile, the Nationals optioned right-hander Joan Adon to Triple-A Rochester. He made the opening-day roster, but has struggled to a 1-10 record and 6.95 ERA in 12 starts. Lefthander Sam Clay was recalled from Triple-A.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was set to make his season debut Thursday night. The 33-year-old has been sidelined for most of the past two seasons and underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last summer.

Orioles-Cubs postponed: The interleague game between the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore was postponed by a relentless rain shower that started shortly before the scheduled start and never let up.