A rough afternoon could have turned into a more painful one for the Marlins on Sunday, as left fielder Corey Dickerson walked off the field in the fifth inning with a bruised left shoulder after he sacrificed his body and landed in the stands while attempting to catch a foul ball.

The Marlins have remained in the thick of the National League East race with a patchwork roster. The prospect of being without a proven staple in their offense would be especially tough to weather.

Dickerson belted a home run on Sunday, his second in as many games, in the Marlins’ 9-3 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park.

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If there was a positive on the afternoon, it’s that Dickerson sustained no structural damage and insists he will be ready to play on Monday in the five-game series finale. The Marlins list him as day to day.

“Luckily, I dodged a bullet right there,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson was shaken up chasing Juan Soto’s foul ball down the left-field line. In hot pursuit, Dickerson made a leaping attempt, but he fell through a spot that didn’t have netting over a low door. Dickerson attempted to clutch the netting for support, but landed hard, bruising his left shoulder. The Marlins trainers tended to him, and with the club already down eight runs, he was replaced.

The effort by Dickerson in a game that was slipping out of hand for the Marlins is an example of why the organization targeted the veteran outfielder in the offseason.

“It says a lot about him,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “You want guys to play hard, stay focused and do all they can. He's another guy that you're asking a lot of. The effort, we love. I think it's something we expect. He's never giving anything less than that.”

To Dickerson, making the risky attempt was just part of his job, to fight to get every out possible.

“It's a pride thing,” Dickerson said. “I don't even think about the score at that time. The pitchers were having a tough time getting out of these few innings. I know it was really important to try and get an out there. That's how I approach the game. I just approach the game to go full force until the last out. That's how I was raised and kind of got myself here.”

Miami (11-11) and Washington have split the first four games, with the series finale set for Monday.

Luis García collected three hits and three runs, and Trea Turner added three hits, including a two-run triple that helped the Nationals break the game open in a five-run fifth.

Rookie right-hander Humberto Mejía allowed four runs (two earned) in 3 2/3 innings, while former Marlins right-hander Aníbal Sánchez gave up one run in seven innings with five strikeouts for the Nationals.

Sánchez, an established veteran who threw a no-hitter while with the Marlins as a rookie in 2006, entered Sunday 0-3 with an 8.50 ERA.

“He's one of those guys that you can get to, or he's going to have a really good day,” Dickerson said. “He can feed off your aggressiveness.”

It was also a game of firsts for three Marlins. Catcher Brian Navarreto singled twice and lefty Brandon Leibrandt, son of former big league pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, helped save the bullpen by throwing four scoreless innings in their big league debuts.

Navaretto was added to the active roster after Francisco Cervelli went on the seven-day concussion list.

“For me, it wasn't surprising because I saw Cervelli, and I hope he's feeling good,” Navaretto said. “Yesterday, when I saw that happen, I was like, 'Tomorrow could be the day!' I couldn't sleep last night. That feeling that your dream was coming true was amazing. I couldn't sleep. My mom and dad were like, 'Get some sleep.' But I couldn't.”

Mattingly said Leibrandt’s four innings were big because five relievers were unavailable after Saturday’s doubleheader.

“The adrenaline is still going,” said Leibrandt, who went to Florida State University. “I have yet to come down and reflect. I was just happy to help the team and save some arms going into tomorrow and these upcoming games.”

Miami's No. 5 prospect, Jesús Sánchez, picked up his first hit -- an RBI double -- in the ninth.

“It’s like your first win, you don’t want that to drag,” Mattingly said of the rookie finally getting a hit.

The veteran Dickerson, meanwhile, exited Sunday’s game at a time he has been heating up. Riding an eight-game hitting streak, the 2017 All-Star is batting .323 (10-for-31) in that span. Since Aug. 12, when the stretch began, Dickerson has raised his batting average from .205 to .257.

In a 5-3 win in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader, Dickerson belted a two-run homer that helped top prospect Sixto Sánchez pick up a victory in his MLB debut.

“I've felt great lately,” Dickerson said. “My confidence in my approach and my confidence to do damage is increasing. I'm getting used to this environment, and all the factors that play into this. I'm feeling really good. I'm confident in where I'm at. I'm just looking forward to going out and battling with these guys. They're a lot of fun to play with.”