MIAMI -- Before facing the Marlins at the end of May, the Nationals hit a season-low point with a 19-31 record, despite high expectations coming into the season. Since then, Washington has gone on to win 21 of its last 30 games -- the second-best mark in the Majors.

That stretch includes Thursday night’s 8-5 win against the Marlins for the Nats’ second sweep of the season, both of which have come this month.

Washington now sits at 40-40, marking just the seventh time in National League history that a team has come back from 12 or more games under to reach the .500 mark before July. The Rockies previously did it in 2009, and they went on to play in the postseason.

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“Anybody who’s going to say no is lying,” Matt Adams said about the speed with which the team got back to .500. “We’re not really focused too much on what our record is in the last 30 games or whatnot. It just goes back to taking it one game at a time. Just focusing on going one for one that day. Getting the one, carrying it over, and keeping the momentum rolling onto the next day.”

Here are three takeaways from the Nationals’ 21-9 stretch that have contributed to their success.

Finding a power stroke

Since May 24, the Nats have outscored opponents, 185-129, and they are one of the top teams in runs scored in the NL.

Washington clubbed a season-high-tying four homers with Juan Soto's solo shot in the fourth and blasts by Adams and Victor Robles during the go-ahead five-run sixth. Kurt Suzuki tacked on a solo homer in the eighth.

Adams and Soto have led the charge for the Nats’ offense, supplying power in the middle of the order. Adams belted a three-run smash for the second game in a row, and he has recorded seven extra-base hits over his last nine starts. Soto has seven extra-base hits during his 12-game on-base streak.

As a team, the Nats have gone deep in 12 straight games, their longest streak of the season. Since May 24, the club has 111 extra-base hits, including 50 homers.

“We're staying on the ball and we're getting pitches in the strike zone to hit,” manager Dave Martinez said. “The key is to hit strikes. Don't chase, work ahead in the counts. They've been doing that.”

Dealing aces

It’s no secret that starting pitching is Washington’s strength as a ballclub. That was proven this series, with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin taking the mound.

The trio combined for 28 strikeouts and six runs allowed over 22 innings. All three boast sub-4.00 ERAs. Overall, Nats starters entered Thursday with the second-highest WAR (9.6) in the Majors, behind only the Dodgers -- the only MLB team with a better record since May 24.

Strasburg extended his winning streak against the Marlins to 10 games dating to Sept. 20, 2015. He is tied for the third-longest active winning streak for one pitcher against a single opponent with Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (against the Mets).

“It's great,” Suzuki said. “Shoot, sign me up. That's a nice luxury to have. You’ve still got to score runs. We haven’t won every game that they've pitched. Still need a team effort, but having them out there definitely gives that confidence knowing that we've just got to score a few runs and we can win this game.”

Reliable relief

The Nats have struggled to find late-inning consistency from the bullpen, but right-hander Wander Suero is helping to bridge the gap to closer Sean Doolittle.

Suero struck out the side in the eighth inning to notch his fifth hold this month. Nine of his 12 outings this month have been scoreless, as he’s proving to be a vital arm that starters can rely on to keep a lead.

Entering Thursday, the Nats’ bullpen ranked 16th with a 4.52 ERA in June, a marked improvement from its overall season ERA of 6.36 -- highest in the Majors.

“He's been fantastic,” Martinez said of Suero. “He means a lot to our bullpen. He's giving the ball to 'Doo' right now. That's a great feeling. The biggest thing with him is he's throwing strikes, using all of his pitches, working ahead in counts, and that's huge for him.”