MIAMI (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe hit a bases-clearing, go-ahead double in the eighth inning, James Wood added a 400-foot homer in the ninth and the Washington Nationals scored seven unanswered runs in a 7-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
The Nationals trailed for the first five innings before scoring seven straight, including three in the eighth and two in the ninth.
Lowe’s hit down the left-field line — that was barely fair — came on the 10th pitch he saw from Anthony Bender, giving the Nationals their first lead at 5-4.
Wood’s homer was his fifth of the season, with 11 RBIs.
The Nationals’ second run in the ninth came when Alex Call hit a shot into the gap that Griffin Conine couldn’t reach on a diving attempt and Josh Bell scored from first.
Kyle Finnegan earned his fifth save.
Bender (1-1) allowed two hits and an earned run in one inning of work.
The Marlins took a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Xavier Edwards brought home two on a grounder up the middle with the bases loaded and no outs. Kyle Stowers added a double down the right-field line, scoring two on his second extra-base hit of the game.
The Marlins left a pair in scoring position in the eighth when Xavier Edwards struck out.
Ex-Marlins managers on US World Baseball staff
Former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker will be the U.S. bench coach and former New York Yankees star Andy Pettitte will be pitching coach for manager Mark DeRosa at next year’s World Baseball Classic.
Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and the father of Baltimore infielder Jackson Holliday, will be hitting coach, USA Baseball said Friday.
Dino Ebel returns from DeRosa’s 2023 staff as third base coach and George Lombard will be first base coach.
DeRosa’s staff also includes another former Marlins skipper in Fredi González, who will be the assistant manager.
The tournament runs from March 5-17 with games played in Houston, Miami, Tokyo and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Japan is defending champion.
Up next
Washington RHP Trevor Williams (1-0, 5.40) will face Miami RHP Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 3.72) on Saturday.
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