Galloway clutch in 10th after Riddle solves Nats

Marlins snap 6-game losing streak

August 19th, 2018

WASHINGTON -- felt the Nationals were challenging him when they intentionally walked JT Riddle to load the bases in the 10th inning and bring him to the plate Saturday night.
Galloway has played in just 13 Major League games, but he was put into similar high-pressure situations over his 11 Minor League seasons. Those experiences gave him the confidence to rip a two-run single to center field, powering the Marlins to a 7-5 win at Nationals Park, which snapped their six-game losing streak and 12-game road losing stretch.
"It's big for us," Galloway said. "We've been talking about it -- just competing for three hours, giving it our all, and live with whatever outcome comes after that. Just competing and try to win games."

While many of the Marlins' young outfielders have struggled this season, manager Don Mattingly explained before Saturday's game how versatile Galloway is.
"He's the best fundamental outfielder we have," Mattingly said. "I'm looking forward to him being competitive out there and knowing he's not going to hurt you on the field."
Mattingly has been patient with the young players on his roster, seeing the rest of this season as a chance for them to gain experience. That way, he figured some of his players would develop quickly.

Galloway flashed his potential Saturday, providing the finishing touches after Riddle tied his career high with four RBIs.
Riddle, who said he's changed his hand placement on the bat, entered Saturday with just one RBI since the All-Star break. Galloway's game-winning hit marked his second and third career RBIs.
"There's huge upside there with JT," Mattingly said. "That's always good when you start to have a little success with the things you're working on."

belted a solo homer in the second inning before Riddle delivered an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth. , who entered Saturday with a 10.27 road ERA, allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, handing the bullpen a 4-2 lead at his exit.

The Marlins surrendered their lead in the seventh inning, though. After loading the bases with no outs, threw a wild pitch, which allowed to score. then hit a single to score and tie the game at 4. replaced Guerrero and got Juan Soto to ground into a double play, which ended the inning.

Riddle responded with a solo homer to right field in the ninth inning, but Eaton took deep to tie the game at 5 in the bottom half of the frame.
and singled in the 10th inning before intentionally walked Riddle to load the bases with two outs. That's when Galloway provided the clutch hit the Marlins have been missing during their struggles.
"It was a huge win for us, especially to bounce back twice tonight," Riddle said. "We could've very easily just shut it down, but we came back and tied it up. … Everybody kind of had everybody's back tonight."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Just when the Marlins are searching for reliable late-inning relievers with on the disabled list (lower back stiffness), recorded his first career save.
Graves forced , and to ground out in the 10th, pumping his fist after sealing Miami's victory.
"The last three outs are definitely different. That's no secret," Graves said. "Just simplifying everything and try to treat it just like normal. Everything is just a little louder, a little brighter. Really just trying to keep it simple and attack the zone."

SOUND SMART
Dietrich's 448-foot home run was his longest since Statcast™ started in 2015.
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The umpires called Guerrero's third pitch to Matt Wieters a ball in the seventh inning, but the Nationals challenged the call, believing the slider hit Wieters' foot.
After a 52-second review, the umpires overturned the call, allowing Wieters to take first on the hit-by-pitch and loading the bases for the Nationals with no outs.
A wild pitch allowed Murphy to score during the next at-bat before Turner scored Eaton to tie the game.

UP NEXT
While appealing his six-game suspension, (3-12, 4.74 ERA) will start against the Nationals at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday at Nationals Park in the series finale. Urena hit Atlanta's with his only pitch in his last start. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts over two starts against Washington this season. The Nats will counter with (7-9, 4.12).