Eric Wagaman stroked the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon.
Sandy Alcantara (2-0) allowed five hits, four walks and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. But the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner did enough to earn the victory.
Calvin Faucher pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save of the season.
Four Marlins players had two hits each: Xavier Edwards (with two runs), Kyle Stowers (two RBIs), Griffin Conine (two RBIs), and Graham Pauley.
Nationals starter Trevor Williams (1-1) took the loss, allowing six runs, eight hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings.
Among Nationals hitters, Keibert Ruiz went 3-for-4, and Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell each had two RBIs.
Miami opened the scoring in the second as Matt Mervis hit a solo homer on an 0-2 changeup.
The Marlins loaded the bases with no outs in the third as they hit three singles, including a bunt by Edwards. Stowers then lofted a sacrifice fly, and a Williams wild pitch made it 3-0.
Washington tied the score 3-3 in the fourth. Just as the Marlins did in the previous inning, the Nationals loaded the bases with no outs. Lowe then drew an RBI walk, and Bell lofted a two-run, opposite-field single off the wall in left.
Miami started the fifth inning with singles by Edwards and Stowers. With two outs, Wagaman hit his RBI double, and Conine followed with a two-run double to make it 6-3.
Washington chased Alcantara in the sixth as Ruiz singled, advanced on a Lowe walk and scored on Ahmed Rosario’s two-out single.
Each team scored one run in the sixth as Washington got an RBI single from Rosario, and Miami benefited from Stowers’ RBI double.
In the seventh, Washington cut its deficit to 7-6 as Ruiz hit an RBI single, and Lowe pushed home a run with a groundout.
Miami’s bullpen buckled down in the eighth as Ronny Henriquez retired the Nationals in order, including two strikeouts.
In the ninth, Faucher also retired the side in order, striking out James Wood to end the game.
