First inning is foremost
Four-run opening frame leads to 2nd straight victory
Jorge Alfaro homered and singled, rookie Bryan De La Cruz had three hits and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 7-5 on Thursday night.
De La Cruz has increased his batting average to .353 since Miami acquired him from Houston on July 30.
Miguel Rojas also went deep and Brian Anderson had two hits and two RBIs for the Marlins, who won their second straight after snapping an eight-game losing streak Wednesday.
Elieser Hernández allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. Hernández (1-1) struck out four and walked one.
Washington’s Juan Soto hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot.
Alfaro capped a four-run first inning with his threerun drive against starter Patrick Corbin (7-13). The Marlins had taken a 1-0 lead on Anderson’s RBI single.
Rojas’ two-run shot in the second, his seventh of the
season, increased Miami’s advantage to 6-0.
Marlins center fielder Lewis Brinson was removed because of a left thumb sprain in the fifth. Brinson collided with left fielder De La Cruz as both unsuccessfully attempted to catch a fly ball hit by Alcides Escobar in the fifth.
Escobar reached second after the ball was jarred from De La Cruz’s glove, and Brinson was charged with an error. Soto followed with his shot over the center-field wall.
Down 7-3, Escobar hit a one-out single and Soto walked against reliever Anthony Bass in the ninth. Richard Bleier relieved Bass and allowed Josh Bell’s RBI single. Yadiel Hernández reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Soto from third.
Bleier hit Carter Kieboom before Dylan Floro came in to retire pinch hitter Riley Adams on a flyout to right for his sixth save.
The Nationals loaded the bases in the fourth on one-out singles by Yadiel Hernández, Kieboom and Luis García. But Elieser Hernández struck out Tres Barrera and retired pinch hitter Lane Thomas on a popout to catcher Alfaro.
Thomas’ pinch-hit appearance ended Corbin’s outing after three innings and 58 pitches. Corbin allowed six runs and four hits, while striking out three and walking two.
TRAINER’S ROOM: RHP Zach Pop (right middle finger soreness) threw another inning of relief Thursday at Low-A Jupiter.
UP NEXT: RHP Zach Thompson (2-5, 2.97) start ed the opener of a home series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.