WASHINGTON -- The Marlins held a party in Nationals Park's visiting team clubhouse shortly after their 12-1 win over the Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
A red cooler sat in the middle of the locker room with a variety of drinks inside. Marlins players sipped the refreshments and yelled at one another as "MotorSport" by Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B blared from gray speakers nearby.

The Marlins were celebrating one of their best wins of the season, which secured their first series victory at the Nationals since May 2014. It also marked Miami's first consecutive victories since beating the Nationals on July 28 and 29. The Marlins entered Saturday on a 12-game road losing streak.
"I wouldn't have thought [we would win] coming in," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "You believe in your club, but we were on the downstroke for sure, and these guys have not treated us very nicely here."

There have been plenty of struggles for the Marlins' young players this season, a factor in Miami performing like the National League's worst team since the All-Star break. But amid those setbacks have also come instances when those players have flashed their potential, making Mattingly and Marlins fans hopeful for the team's future.
The Marlins' promise was on display Sunday. Miami racked up 17 hits with six players notching multi-hit games, led by Starlin Castro's career-high five hits. JT Riddle, who went 7-for-12 at the plate this series, and J.T. Realmuto each recorded three RBIs. Jose Urena said he pitched his best-ever game, allowing one run in a complete game and retiring the final 16 hitters.

Mattingly called out his team's lack of intensity after a loss Friday. The Marlins responded, scoring 19 runs in the final two games of this series.
"Jose was great for us and kind of kept us in a rhythm, too, at the plate," Riddle said. "We get some hits … and it's a three-up-three-down inning and we're back in there swinging again."
Urena, who was able to pitch while appealing his six-game suspension for hitting Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. on Wednesday, didn't give the Nationals a chance. The right-hander, who threw 108 pitches Sunday, hadn't pitched more than six innings since June 15. He struck out four against two walks in going the distance for the first time in his career.

Edinson Volquez was the last Marlins pitcher to throw a complete game, which he accomplished with a no-hitter last June. Ricky Nolasco was the last Miami pitcher to throw a complete game on the road on Sept. 9, 2012.
"That shows a lot of his character, the type of person that he is," John Holaday said. "This past week, he's been probably the most hated player in baseball. To put that behind you is not easy to do."
Castro put the Marlins on the board in the third inning with an RBI single before Austin Dean knocked a two-run double with his second career hit.

The Nationals added a run in the bottom of the third inning, but the Marlins took control in the fifth. Riddle, Rafael Ortega and Realmuto recorded RBIs in a five-run inning.

Giovany Gonzalez, who entered Sunday with a 1.89 career ERA against the Marlins, became the second pitcher this season to permit eight or more earned runs to the Marlins. The left-hander exited after allowing eight runs over 4 2/3 innings.
Tommy Milone, pitching in relief, also couldn't contain Miami's offense, allowing homers to Riddle, Realmuto and Isaac Galloway over the final four innings.

"Any series win is a good win," Holaday said. "You got to forget about the last game and go get the next one."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
After driving in a run in the third inning, Adam Eaton tried to extend his double to a triple. Right fielder Ortega threw the ball in to Realmuto at first, who threw a dart to third baseman Brian Anderson to tag Eaton out. That emptied the bases for the Nationals with two outs.
"That kind of sparked some momentum," Holaday said.

SOUND SMART
The Marlins' 10 extra-base hits Sunday marked the 11th time in franchise history Miami recorded double-digit extra-base hits in a game.

HE SAID IT
"You can just see the fire in his eyes every time he's out there." -- Riddle, on Urena
UP NEXT
After an off-day Monday, the Marlins will begin a two-game set against the Yankees at Marlins Park on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. It will be the first time Giancarlo Stanton returns to Marlins Park since he signed with the Yankees in December. Pablo Lopez (2-3, 4.79 ERA) will start for the Marlins after giving up six runs over 5 1/3 innings to the Braves in his previous outing. Masahiro Tanaka (9-4, 4.03 ERA) will counter the right-hander.