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Jacob Young, Lane Thomas homer as Nationals complete sweep of Marlins, 3-1

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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. Miamiā€™s lone run came when he was unable to glove Jazz Chisholm Jr.ā€™s 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.

ā€œEveryoneā€™s throwing well,ā€ Parker said. ā€œItā€™s contagious. We keep winning ballgames. Winningā€™s fun.ā€

Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his 20th save in 22 opportunities.

Young, who has served as Washingtonā€™s regular center fielder since just after he debuted last August, drove JesĆŗs Luzardoā€™s fastball into the visitorā€™s 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.

ā€œWe were joking with him how he crushed it,ā€ Washington manager Dave Martinez said. ā€œIt 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.

ā€œTo grind through five innings, hot day, with a stiff back, still got a lot of outs,ā€ Schumaker said. ā€œTwo 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.

ā€œTheyā€™re not happy when theyā€™re getting one run or shut out or that type of thing,ā€ Schumaker said. ā€œIt was a tough road trip, no question. But itā€™s not a lack of effort or preparation. Just a lack of execution right now.ā€

Trainerā€™s Room

Nationals: Martinez said an MRI exam on OF Jesse Winkerā€™s right knee was ā€œpretty 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


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