WASHINGTON (AP) — Luis Arraez broke out of an 0-for-15 slide with a 5-for-5 night that included three RBIs, raising his major league-leading batting average from .378 to .390 and helping the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 6-5 on Friday.
Arraez singled in the first off Trevor Williams and hit a two-run homer in the second for a 4-2 lead, ending a 52-game homerless streak dating to April 11. He had an RBI single in the fourth, then singled in the seventh against Mason Thompson and singled in the ninth against Chad Kuhl to match his career high with five hits, set June 3 against Oakland.
“Baseball is hard. Hitting .400 is hard,” Arraez said. “Hitting .300 is hard, but it’s not impossible. I just go there and want a hit every at-bat. But I’m human, I just try to put the ball in play and do something good for my teammates.”
Garrett Cooper hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning off Carl Edwards Jr. (1-3), and the Marlins won for the 10th time in 13 games. Miami improved to 18-5 in one-run games, including 3-0 against the Nats, the most one-run wins in the major leagues.
Miami (39-31) is off to its second-best 70-game behind 42-28 in 1997, when it won the World Series.
Yuli Gurriel drew a one-out walk in the eighth, advanced on Joey Wendle’s single and scored from second when pinch-hitter Garrett Cooper grounded a single up the middle. Shortstop CJ Abrams got to the ball but couldn’t field it cleanly and his throw home bounced and wasn’t gloved by catcher Keibert Ruiz.
“Yuli didn’t stop, made the turn, great slide,” manager Skip Schumaker said.
Andrew Nardi (4-1) allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and A.J. Puk worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.
Lane Thomas had his seventh leadoff homer — he had been 0 for 15 against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara — and also doubled. Jeimer Candelario tied the Nationals record with three doubles.
Alcantara gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Alcantara’s ERA rose to 4.97 and he has given up four or more earned runs in five of last seven starts.
“I saw location up, missed location,” Schumaker said. “Didn’t think he had the depth on his changeup that he wanted. So I think when he has some of those innings it’s because of the location.”
Washington starter Trevor Williams allowed up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run single in the first.
Abrams and Thomas hit consecutive RBI doubles that tied the score 5-5 in the fourth.
“As far as the process goes, it’s great for us to continue to push and continue to fight like that,” Williams said. “And one of these days it’s going to bounce our way and we’re going to win those one run games where we come back like that.”
SEIZING THE MOMENT
Nardi entered with runners on first and second and one out in the sixth. He struck out Abrams and retired Thomas on a fly to left.
“Some guys run from the stage, some guys run to it, and he runs to the stage,” Schumaker said. “He’s not scared of anybody out there. Lane Thomas had a great game. Did not want to see him up with a couple guys on and he went right after him.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: 3B Jean Segura (left hamstring) did not play. … LHP Trevor Rogers (right lat strain) is rehabbing in Jupiter, Florida, and will be evaluated this weekend. He could begin throwing on Monday.
Nationals: CF Victor Robles (back spasms) came off the injured list and went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. OF Alex Call was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.
UP NEXT
Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett (2-2, 4.10) has a 2.25 ERA in his past six starts heading into Saturday’s outing. Nationals: RHP Jake Irvin (1-3, 5.81) was skipped his last turn and hasn’t pitched since June 6 vs. Arizona.
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