Washington, D.C. — The Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins 15-7 on Monday, September 8, 2025, at Nationals Park in a high-scoring National League East matchup. With the Nationals at 59-84 and fifth in the division and the Marlins at 66-78 and third, the game highlighted Washington’s offensive strength despite both teams remaining in the playoff hunt with games left in the season.
The Nationals took an early lead in the second inning when Luis García Jr. hit a solo home run, his 13th of the year, off Marlins starter Janson Junk. Miami tied it in the bottom half with a single by Heriberto Hernández, scoring Otto Lopez. Washington pulled ahead in the fourth with a two-run single by Dylan Crews, then exploded for five runs in the fifth, including singles by Josh Bell and Riley Adams, a sacrifice fly by Paul DeJong, and a three-run homer by Crews. Bell added two more home runs in the sixth and seventh, driving in six runs, while James Wood contributed with two doubles and a single.
The Marlins fought back, scoring twice in the fifth on a single by Xavier Edwards and adding three runs in the eighth, capped by a three-run homer from Victor Mesa Jr. Jakob Marsee’s solo homer in the ninth closed the scoring. Despite the late push, Miami’s 10 hits could not match Washington’s 19, which included four home runs and four doubles.
Cade Cavalli earned the win, moving to 3-1 with a 4.67 ERA after five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Junk took the loss, falling to 6-3 with a 4.48 ERA, giving up eight runs in 4.1 innings. The Nationals’ bullpen of Orlando Ribalta and Yuto Ogasawara allowed five runs over four innings, while Miami’s relievers Seth Martinez, Josh Simpson and George Soriano surrendered 11 runs combined.
Statistically, the Nationals went 9-for-20 with runners in scoring position, outhitting the Marlins’ 5-for-12, with both teams leaving eight runners on base. Washington committed no errors, while Lopez stole a base for Miami, though Marsee was picked off by Cavalli. Umpires Erich Bacchus, Brian O’Nora, Mike Estabrook and Laz Diaz oversaw the nine-inning game, which proceeded without delays.
Bell led with six RBIs, Crews added four, and DeJong contributed two, with Adams and García Jr. each adding one. Mesa paced Miami with three RBIs, supported by Acosta, Edwards, Hernández and Marsee with one each. Cavalli’s pickoff stood out defensively, while the Marlins’ pitching struggled with inherited runners.
This victory keeps the Nationals’ momentum alive, with both teams scheduled for further games this season. The Nationals host next, while the Marlins travel for their upcoming series.
