Luis García Jr. hit a home run, DJ Herz pitched five strong innings allowing just one run, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Friday night.
Jacob Young contributed with an RBI single as the Nationals scored three unearned runs thanks to three errors by the Marlins.
Otto Lopez hit a home run for Miami, which has lost four out of its last five games.
The Nationals only managed one hit in six innings against Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, a single by Dylan Crews in the first inning, but took advantage once Cabrera was out of the game.
García connected with the second pitch from reliever Anthony Veneziano, sending it into right field seats in the seventh inning for his 16th home run of the season, making the score 3-1. It was his first home run in 101 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season.
“That was a big moment for us,” said Washington manager Dave Martinez.
Two batters later, Drew Millas reached base due to an error by shortstop Xavier Edwards and advanced to second after a bad throw by first baseman Jake Burger. Millas then scored on Young’s single to right field.
Herz (4-7) achieved back-to-back wins for the first time in his career, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. The rookie left-hander improved to 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts against the Marlins this season.
“I wasn’t sharp today and didn’t have my best stuff, but I fought,” Herz said. “I found ways to get out of it and had some great plays behind me today.”
Herz has a 2.76 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 49 innings over 10 starts since his return to the majors on July 23, lowering his season ERA from 5.17 to 3.70.
“For him, it’s all about attacking the zone and staying on the plate,” Martinez said. “When he does that, he’s really good.”
Lopez hit his fifth home run of the year with a one-out shot into the visitor’s bullpen in left field in the fourth inning.
Kyle Finnegan closed out the game in the ninth inning for his 37th save in 42 chances.
