Marlins cool off against Nationals on Labor Day

(2025, Associated Press)

By: Cristopher Avello

The young and fundamentally sound Miami Marlins (65-72) played at Nationals Park, sitting third in the NL East. Fresh off wins in their last two games; and 5-5 in their last 10. Their continued resilience and approach ranked them sixth in batting average at .251 and sixth in doubles with .230 before the Labor Day combat. 

Luke Bachar prepared as a starter for Monday’s game against Washington. Making his first career start after coming out of the Marlins bullpen for 58.1 innings.

Bachar had two wins on the road already this season. And the Marlins coach entered this game with the same strategy, asking his starting pitcher to give him two strong innings and he would make a decision then. 

After placing Cabrera on the injured list, the Marlins looked to Bachar for value out of the bullpen. 

Coach McCullough said, “He felt tightness after last start and any time it's elbow or shoulder, you need to really look at it.”

Clayton McCullough kept the message simple: “We’re going to approach every game like we have from Opening Day,” he said. “Learn from what we did well, fix what we didn’t, and keep improving.”

The coach talked about Bachar's first start, “Getting Lake out there and seeing how far he can go. Lake has the ability to get left hand and right hand hitters out.” 

As a result Coach McCollough’s strategy limited National hitters to only two runs, unfortunately they both scored on starter Bachar in the second inning. 

Daylen Lile connected for his 5th triple of the season, scoring Garcia all the way from first base. Then Nationals number six hitter Chapparo drove in his second run of the season with a deep fly to right field, scoring Lile. 

Bachar pitched two innings, striking out two and allowing two hits. Gibson and Soriano each had two strike outs and combined for 3 1/3 innings for the fish.

Marlins 2-7 hitters went 1-18 against National pitchers. The Nationals were led by debut pitcher Andrew Alvarez, Alvarez had Marlin hitters chasing sliders and curve balls for 5 innings. He earned the win in his first start only allowing one hit and two walks, becoming the second Washington starter in 15 years to win his major league debut. 

The Marlins entered batting .329 off of National hitters and only combined for two hits from Heriberto Hernandez and Victor Mesa Jr., who joined the Marlins for the second time this year on Sunday from Triple-A Jacksonville.

SSOD Key Moment

Daylen Lile triples to deep left center field.

SSOD Key Stat

Marlins bullpen combine for six shutout innings.

SSOD Laters

Marlins vs Nationals, second game of a three game set. Red Sox (Cavalli, 1-1, 5.11) play host to Marlins (Mazur, 0-1, 5.59)