Josh Rogers allows 1 run to lead Nationals over Marlins 7-1
MIAMI (AP) ā Josh Rogers pitched 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 7-1 Tuesday night.
Rogers (2-0) scattered five hits, struck out four and walked two in his longest outing since joining the club Sept. 4.
āI hope they like me as much as I like them because Iām having a good ole time with all the guys here,ā Rogers said of his three weeks with the Nationals. āFrom the coaching staff to all the players, everybodyās been super awesome. Iām just trying to make the most of my opportunity.ā
Juan Soto and rookie Keibert Ruiz had two hits and an RBI each for the Nationals (62-89), who closed within two games of Miami (64-87) for fourth in the NL East. Ruiz, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner on July 30, is 12 for 26 with nine RBIs in his last nine games.
āI just want to keep working, keep getting better and not worry about the results,ā Ruiz said.
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Sixth-inning, run-scoring singles from Ruiz, Yadiel HernaĢndez, Jordy Mercer and Luis GarciĢa gave the Nationals a 4-1 lead.
Ruizās hit off Miami Trevor Rogers (7-8) scored Alcides Escobar from second and tied it at 1. Escobar collided with catcher Nick Fortes, who moved up the line to catch left-fielder Lewis Brinsonās throw. Escobar reached home but remained on the ground for a minute, shaking off the collisionās impact.
Although he reached his feet first, Fortes also felt the collision.
āHis knee went right into my thigh so Iām a little sore,ā Fortes said. āBut I should be all right.ā
HernaĢndezās single chased Rogers, and Mercer and GarciĢa singled against Anthony Bass.
Washington padded its lead on Escobarās two-run double and Sotoās RBI double against Taylor Williams in the ninth.
āJosh was really good,ā Nationals manager Dave Martinez said āFor him to go to that deep was awesome. Our bullpen needed a break. The guys play hard behind him and he competes.ā
Miguel Rojas singled with two outs in the eighth, Andres Machado walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Bryan De La Cruz and got JesuĢs SaĢnchez to ground into a forceout. Mason Thompson closed with a perfect ninth.
āThere were a number of balls we hit on the nose tonight,ā Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. āIt seemed to be right at people. You have to give him credit. He kept us off balance.ā
Rogers allowed four runs ā one earned ā and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out a career-high 10 and walked two. Miamiās NL All-Star representative is 0-5 in 11 starts since beating Colorado on June 10.
Fortes homered on an 0-2 slider for a 1-0 lead in the fifth, his second homer since he was brought up from Triple-A last Friday.
IMITATION
Count Josh Rogers among those who celebrate Chisholmās home run trots. Rogers also did his best Chisholm imitation trot after he struck out Chisholm to end the third and headed to the dugout.
āJazz is a sick player. Heās fun to watch,ā Rogers said. āItās entertainment for people. Itās all in good fun. He probably thinks itās funny, too.ā
OFFICIAL SCORER CHANGE
Miamiās Lewis Brinson was credited with a single and RBI in the seventh inning of Mondayās game. The original ruling had Brinson reaching on shortstop Alcides Escobarās fielding error that scored Bryan De La Cruz from second base.
TRAINERāS ROOM
Nationals: 3B Carter Kieboom (sore left thumb) didnāt play. He felt sore after sliding into a base Monday.
Marlins: Rojas (bruised left knee) returned to the lineup after pinch hitting on Monday and went 2 for 3 with a walk.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (0-2, 6.24) is to start the series and season finale between both teams Wednesday.
Marlins: RHP Elieser HernaĢndez (1-2, 3.59) will seek his second victory against the team he got his win against on Aug. 26.
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