Xavier Edwards hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, leading the Miami Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
With an automatic runner on base, Griffin Conine moved to third on a groundout by Nick Fortes. Edwards then hit a soft line drive off Derek Law (7-3) that bounced into left field, giving Miami their first win of the season against Washington after losing eight times to them.
It was also Edwards’ first career walk-off hit, and he was celebrated with a bucket of ice water after the game.
“I will remember the bucket of ice water,” Edwards said. “It was cold, like getting out of a cold tub. Felt similar.”
Edwards had singles in his last two at-bats after not getting a hit in his first eight plate appearances since returning from the injured list on Tuesday. With two bases open, he thought he might be walked intentionally to set up a force-out situation.
“I’m glad that they pitched to me,” Edwards said. “The goal was just to get the run in any way that I could. So I’m glad that I did.”
John McMillon (1-1) pitched the top of the 10th to get the win in a game that drew a season-low 6,156 fans at LoanDepot Park.
The Marlins overcame a no-hit bid by Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and were trailing 3-2 before Jake Burger’s tying single in the eighth inning.
Edwards and Connor Norby both hit two-out singles against Nationals reliever Jose Ferrer. Kyle Finnegan then replaced Ferrer and allowed Burger’s line drive to left field.
“I thought we were going to get no-hit there for a minute the way Gore was throwing the baseball,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “To come out of that with a win is awesome.”
The Nationals had erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the eighth inning against relievers Mike Baumann and Calvin Faucher.
