Jacob Young hit his first major league homer, Lane Thomas went deep for the third day in a row, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday.
Washington has won eight of nine and improved to 7-0 against Miami. It was the Nationalsā second sweep of the season. The other was April 26-29 at Miami.
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The Marlins have lost five in a row and 11 of 13. An NL-worst 23-48, Miami was swept for the sixth time and is 25 games under .500 for the first time this season. The Marlins are 3-23 against left-handed starters, including losses in all three games of this series.
The Nationalsā Mitchell Parker (5-3) allowed six hits and no walks in six innings while striking out four. Miamiās lone run came when he was unable to glove Jazz Chisholm Jr.ās infield single with two outs in the fifth inning, allowing Emmanuel Rivera to score.
Over the last 10 games, Washington starters are 6-0 with a 1.41 ERA.
āEveryoneās throwing well,ā Parker said. āItās contagious. We keep winning ballgames. Winningās fun.ā
Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his 20th save in 22 opportunities.
Young, who has served as Washingtonās regular center fielder since just after he debuted last August, drove JesĆŗs Luzardoās fastball into the visitorās bullpen in left to lead off the sixth and give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. It came in his 93rd career game and 325th plate appearance.
āWe were joking with him how he crushed it,ā Washington manager Dave Martinez said. āIt was good for him. I could see when he touched third base, he had a smile from ear to ear. It was awesome, and in a big moment, too.ā
Thomas hit his seventh homer of the year in the first off Luzardo (3-6). It marked the second time Thomas smacked homers on three consecutive days. He also did it last Sept. 1-3 against Miami.
Luzardo allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two in five innings. Miami manager Skip Schumaker said Luzardo woke up Sunday with a stiff back.
āTo grind through five innings, hot day, with a stiff back, still got a lot of outs,ā Schumaker said. āTwo runs against a good team, he did plenty enough for us to win.ā
Ildemaro Vargas added an RBI double in the sixth off reliever Anthony Bender.
Miami was 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 2 for 17 in the series. The Marlins have scored 26 runs in 13 games in June.
āTheyāre not happy when theyāre getting one run or shut out or that type of thing,ā Schumaker said. āIt was a tough road trip, no question. But itās not a lack of effort or preparation. Just a lack of execution right now.ā
Trainerās Room
Nationals: Martinez said an MRI exam on OF Jesse Winkerās right knee was āpretty cleanā and that Winker should be available in a couple days. Winker was injured running the bases Saturday.
Up Next
Marlins: LHP Braxton Garrett (2-2, 6.10 ERA) gets the nod as Miami returns home Monday to start a three-game series against St. Louis.
Nationals: Washington is off Monday. RHP Jake Irvin (5-5, 3.00) starts the opener of a three-game series against Arizona when the homestand continues Tuesday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb