Bell hits 100th career HR, Nats beat Marlins, 3rd win in row
Jul 20, 2021, 7:19 AM | Updated: 9:33 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Bell hit his 100th career home run and the Washington Nationals rallied past the Miami Marlins 6-3 Tuesday night for their third straight win.
Miami lost its fourth in a row.
After Adam Duvall’s three-run homer gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth, the Nationals quickly answered in the bottom half.
Tres Barrera doubled and scored the tying run on a two-out single by pinch-hitter Yadiel Hernandez off Richard Bleier (2-1). After Alcides Escobar was hit by a pitch, Trea Turner and Juan Soto followed with RBI singles off Anthony Bender.
“They had good at-bats today,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We could have put the game away, we left nine guys on base, but we battled back. They stayed positive and we ended up scoring a bunch of other runs later.”
Bleier had gone 12 straight appearances without allowing a run. As he left the game, he argued that Escobar swung at the pitch that hit him, continued to argue from the dugout, and was ejected.
“It’s been a frustrating stretch for everyone involved and the only thing we can do is move forward,” Bleier said.
Bleier said that after watching the tape, he agreed with the umpire that Escobar didn’t swing.
Bell added to the lead with a pinch-hit drive in the eighth, his second homer in two games.
Kyle Finnegan (4-2) pitched one inning and Brad Hand worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save.
Duval’s homer was his 21st of the season.
All-Star Trevor Rogers gave up two runs on five hits over five innings for the Marlins. He struck out three and walked three.
“I thought he looked great, honestly. He missed some spots, which everybody’s going to do and they made him pay for it,” manager Don Mattingly said. “I thought his stuff was really good.”
Washington starter Paolo Espino, who threw 51 pitches in relief on Friday, started in place of the injured Joe Ross and tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits.
“I felt really good. I felt like all the pitches were working real well,” Espino said. “Today was one of those days where everything you throw you feel comfortable, you feel good.”
The Nationals led 2-0 after an RBI single by Victor Robles in the second and a run-scoring double by Ryan Zimmerman in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Placed RHP Sandy Alcantara on the bereavement list. … INF Jose Devers (right shoulder impingement) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. … RHP Luis Madero was selected from Triple-A Jacksonville.
Nationals: Escobar left the game after being hit by a pitch on the right wrist in the sixth. He has a contusion and is day-to-day. … RHP Stephen Strasburg (neck strain) reported no problems after Monday’s bullpen session and he’s slated to throw another bullpen Thursday or Friday. … RHP Ross (right elbow inflammation) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. If there are no issues, he could then either return to the rotation or make a rehab start.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Alcantara was scheduled to make the start and Mattingly said the team will bring someone in to make the start.
Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (4-7, 5.32) looks to bounce back from Friday’s start, when he allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Padres. He’s 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three career starts versus Miami.
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