AP

Ruiz’s 10th-inning RBI double lifts Nationals over Marlins

May 18, 2022, 7:51 AM | Updated: 8:53 pm

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) beats the throw to Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas to ste...

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) beats the throw to Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas to steal second during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)


              Washington Nationals' Cesar Hernandez hits a triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, runs past Washington Nationals shortstop Alcides Escobar (3) for a triple during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Miguel Rojas, right, scores past Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, left, on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Cooper during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. scores on a sacrifice fly hit by Jesus Aguilar during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals' Cesar Hernandez, right, slides past Miami Marlins third baseman Erik Gonzalez (9) with a triple during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) draws a walk during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey (48) talks with starting pitcher Josiah Gray (40) during the third inning of a baseball game Miami Marlins, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) beats the throw to Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas to steal second during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 Wednesday night.

César Hernández tripled and doubled, Maikel Franco singled twice, and Juan Soto had three walks for the Nationals, who avoided their second three-game sweep to the Marlins this season.

Ruiz’s smash down the third-base line off reliever Daniel Castano (0-1) scored automatic runner Dee Strange-Gordon from third. For Ruiz, the hit capped a performance that also included another double, a single and two walks.

“I wasn’t trying to do too much, just look for my pitch,” Ruiz said. “I found something that I could drive and bring in the run. Thank God I found that pitch and we got the result we wanted.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s sacrifice fly against Washington reliever Tanner Rainey (1-1) with the bases loaded in the ninth tied it at 4. The Nationals unsuccessfully appealed that Jesús Sánchez left third base before Soto caught Chisholm’s shot in right.

Victor Arano worked the 10th for his first save.

The Nationals broke a 3-3 tie after Miami reliever Anthony Bender hit Lane Thomas with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Marlins starter Pablo López, who began the day with a major league-best 1.05 ERA, had his shortest outing of the season, working three innings on 82 pitches. López allowed three runs, four hits, walked two and struck out two. The right-hander’s ERA rose to 1.57.

“Today was the least comfortable I’ve felt on the mound so far and it was an odd feeling so I was trying to recreate some stuff instead of trying to simplify,” López said. “I was trying to find something that wasn’t there.”

Chisholm, who didn’t feel well during the game, tied it at 3 with his solo shot against starter Josiah Gray to lead off the fifth. Chisholm drove Gray’s fastball over the wall in center for his seventh homer.

“I’m still feeling pretty bad right now, got the shivers all day and still feeling them now,” Chisholm said. “Earlier today, I was just resting all day and when I got to the field, they asked me if I could still play. I felt like I could just play through it, like I could flip the switch when I needed to do it.”

Gray was lifted after six innings. He allowed three runs, six hits and struck out seven and hit a batter.

“You just go out there and attack the zone and put up zeroes for the team,” Gray said. “More times than not, if I get it to the spot I want to, it’s going to be a good pitch.”

Consecutive RBI doubles from Alcides Escobar and Hernández in the second put Washington ahead 3-1 before the Marlins narrowed the deficit on Garrett Cooper’s sacrifice fly in the third.

The Nationals struck quickly against López. Hernández hit a leadoff triple and scored on a wild pitch.

“We had a game plan against Pablo, he’s a tremendous pitcher,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We wanted to see him throw the ball up and stay away from his changeup. We did a good job with that.”

Miami responded in the bottom half as leadoff hitter Chisholm also tripled and raced home on Jesús Aguilar’s sacrifice fly.

PLATE DISCIPLINE

Hernández set the tone early with his nine-pitch at bat in the first. The Nationals made López quickly build up his pitch count, resulting in his brief outing. After Hernández, the four other batters in the inning drew at least five pitches.

“That was awesome,” Martinez said of Hernández’s at bat. “He doesn’t get enough credit because he’s not your typical leadoff hitter but the guy swings the bat. He’s swinging the bat well.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: OF Jorge Soler (back stiffness) missed his second consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (2-2, 4.24) is the scheduled starter in the opener of a three-game set at Milwaukee Friday.

Marlins: LHP Trevor Rogers (2-4, 4.45) will start the opener of a home series against Atlanta Friday.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Ruiz’s 10th-inning RBI double lifts Nationals over Marlins