MIAMI -- The Marlins had only one hit as a team entering the eighth inning Friday night.
Headed toward an ugly loss, they turned things around and claimed a crucial walk-off win, beating the Nationals 3-2 at loanDepot park to start a six-game homestand and snap a three-game losing streak.
Trailing by a run, the Marlins (65-64) scored twice in the eighth to snatch the lead, then triumphed in their final turn at the plate after blowing the lead in the top of the ninth. Javier Sanoja singled up the middle with the bases loaded and no outs to set off the celebration.
The Marlins crept a game back over .500 by beating the Nationals for the sixth consecutive time. They’re now 39-25 at home this season. They entered Friday’s game tied for the fourth-most home wins in Major League Baseball, trailing only the Rays (43), Brewers (44), and Braves (42).
The Nationals knotted the score in the ninth on Daylen Lile’s two-out single to left field off right-hander Pete Fairbanks, scoring Jacob Young from second. Young had walked and stolen second. Fairbanks had made eight straight scoreless appearances and retired 24 of 27 batters faced since July 26 vs. San Diego.
Sanoja and Otto Lopez each had an RBI single as the Marlins’ offense finally broke through in the eighth inning.