Marlins back up strong Alcantara start with three homers in win vs. Nationals

Heriberto Hernandez hit a pinch-hit two-run homer, Sandy Alcantara pitched seven solid innings and the Miami Marlins rallied past the Nationals 7-3 in Washington, D.C. on Monday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Alcantara, who had given 14 runs over his past two starts, allowed three runs on seven hits. He struck out five without a walk and improved to 4-4 to pick up his first win since April 24.

Miami led 4-3 before Liam Hicks hit a solo homer in the ninth inning and Kyle Stowers followed with a two-run shot. Both long balls were given up by Cole Henry.

Otto Lopez had three hits and scored a run for the Marlins.

Jacob Young hit a two-run home run and Curtis Mead had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals.

Richard Lovelady (2-3) took the loss, allowing two runs in 2/3 of an inning.

Hicks led off the game with a walk and Lopez singled. Stowers bunted the runners over and Xavier Edwards walked to load the bases. With two outs, Owen Caissie challenged a strike two call and it was overturned to ball four, forcing in a run.

CJ Abrams singled leading off the bottom of the second and, one out later, Young homered to left to put the Nationals up 2-1.

In the third, James Wood reached on an infield hit and took second on shortstop Lopez’s throwing error. Wood went to third on a ground out and scored on Mead’s single to make it 3-1.

When Leo Jimenez singled leading off the sixth, starter Cade Cavalli was pulled for Lovelady. Manager Clayton McCullough pinch-hit Hernandez for Caissie and Hernandez homered over the left field fence to tie the score, 3-3.

Jakob Marsee was hit by a pitch and Joe Mack bunted him to second. Connor Norby followed with a bloop double behind first and Marsee scored the go-ahead run.

Daylen Lile singled leading off the Washington seventh, but Alcantara retired the next three batters.

Cavalli gave up two runs on five hits in five-plus innings. He struck out six and walked three.