Trevor Rogers started and completed five innings for the Miami Marlins on Thursday as they completed the sweep and extended their lead over the Nationals to six games. Rogers allowed two earned runs, six hits and retired five via the strikeout, but the offense stole the show as the Marlins topped the Nationals, 7-4.
Recap
Rogers started off slow as he let up two hits in the first inning, but no runs came across. As for the Marlins in the bottom of the first inning, they got started early. Jazz Chisholm led off, saw a solid sinker on the outside of the zone, and took advantage and lined a bunt down the third base line. With two outs and two runners on, Jesus Sanchez came up and lined a double into right field, enabling Chisholm to score from third and Asivail Garcia to advance to third. Just when you think the Marlins are going to quit at a one run lead, Jon Berti smacked one past second base and into shallow center field, scoring the runners from first and third. This, finally, ended the Marlins offensive production in the first.
After the action in the first, there was a combined 0 runs and one hit throughout the next 4 innings.
As the game entered the fifth inning, the Nationals started with catcher Riley Adams who singled, just as Victor Robles did two at-bats later. As the leadoff hitter Lane Thomas was walked, the bases were now loaded for Washington and an opportunity to make some noise now presented itself for the Nats. Juan Soto, the top bat for D.C, singled to left and both Robles and Thomas scored, making it a one run ballgame at a score of 3-2.
Jazz Chisholm continued an impressive day as he once again singled in the bottom of the fifth, setting up the next batter, Garrett Cooper, to send him home on a double. The Marlins caught fire here as Jesus Aguilar sent Cooper home on a single. Avisail Garcia then doubled, but Aguilar was thrown out at the plate. But, you give some and take some, and the Marlins took their plenty as Jesus Sanchez homered the next at-bat, a two-run shot to right-center.
The Nationals scored two runs and made it to a three-run game, but their rally in the seventh fell short, as they could only deliver one hit in the eighth and ninth combined.
The Marlins will see the Nats nine more times this season, soonest on July 1-4 at Nationals Park. Miami surely hopes for the same success as they had in this series.
Next up, the Marlins will face the Astros in Houston on Friday, June 10 at 8:10 PM.