MIAMI -- Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki -- a veteran of 13 big league seasons -- finds himself in a race to get healthy enough to contribute during the final stretch of a playoff chase.

Suzuki, who turns 36 on Oct. 4, hadn't appeared in a game since Sept. 7 because of right elbow inflammation. But he had an impact in Washington's 10-4 win over Miami in extra innings on Saturday night at Marlins Park, entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th with the bases loaded and stroking a double to drive in three runs that gave the Nationals a much more comfortable lead.

"Felt good. I've been hitting [batting practice] and stuff like that," Suzuki said. "I was itching to get back in the box, get in a game, try to help out the team. Nice to be out there."

Added Nationals manager Dave Martinez: "I told him he's pinch-hitting, got up there and I said, 'Don't take a fastball. Get ready to hit the fastball. You haven't swung in a while.' He got up there, was ready to hit right from the first pitch. If we can get him going down the stretch, we need him. You see he can pinch-hit, and hopefully he can get back out and catch real soon."

On Friday, Suzuki threw from 60 feet for the first time, after he took batting practice and caught a bullpen session earlier this week.

"When guys hurt their elbow and they have to get surgery, they're out for a year or so," said Suzuki, who played in the postseason in 2012 and '18, before Saturday's game. "You don't want to do that at this point in my career. At the same time, I don't know how many times I'm going to have the opportunity to get to the playoffs, so it's that fine line where you have to balance it out."

With Suzuki sidelined, fellow veteran Yan Gomes has started 11 of 12 games. Washington won't have the luxury of Gomes shouldering that kind of workload during the regular season's final week, with eight games in seven days. That stretch includes a doubleheader on Tuesday.

"He's been phenomenal. He's stepped up when Suzuki went down," Martinez said. "Catching every day and doing things that typically normal catchers don't do, which is day after night and not complain and going out there and giving it his all. ... He's playing really well. I know our pitchers like throwing to him; they all do. He's done well."

Gomes went 2-for-5 on Saturday night, with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

If Suzuki, who called himself Gomes' biggest cheerleader, is unable to catch by Tuesday, Raudy Read will get one of the doubleheader starts. He has played in 12 big league games with 16 plate appearances.

Suzuki has declared himself ahead of schedule for his return. The key to determining his progress has been seeing how he recovers the day after throwing.

"That's kind of the plan now. Get to a point where I can play," Suzuki said. "Obviously, I don't think anybody's 100 percent now at this part of the year, no matter if they're healthy or not. It's just a matter of getting [well] enough to be able to go out there and play."

What's next for Doolittle?

During Friday night's ninth inning, Martinez had planned to turn to lefty Sean Doolittle if switch-hitter Neil Walker came to the plate. Instead, righty Daniel Hudson induced a game-ending double play.

Doolittle, Washington's closer until he landed on the injured list with right knee tendinitis, last recorded a save on Aug. 16. Since his return on Sept. 1, he has worked in innings seven through nine, with one hold and no save opportunities across six appearances.

"He's good. I talked to him last night, and he feels really good," Martinez said. "Got him up last night, and he was going to get in the game [to face] the next hitter. He understands when we need him either in the eighth or the ninth, he's going to be the guy."

Worth noting

According to Martinez, Roenis Elias (Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring) will throw and might jog on Monday.