WASHINGTON — The Miami Marlins believe they’ve found a recipe for success. Their three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals might be proof.
The Marlins won with offensive depth Tuesday, behind standout pitching Wednesday and by winning a war of attrition Thursday. Miami was tied with the Nationals into the seventh inning — and both teams’ lone early run was heavily aided by suspect defense — before a pinch-hit RBI single by Jesus Sanchez finally gave the Marlins the lead on their way to a 3-2 win in Washington.
Trevor Rogers — one of three starting pitchers the Marlins (10-8) envision as a potential ace — fired six innings and only gave up one run when Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez led off the game with a single, got all the way to third base on a wild pitch and passed ball, and scored on a one-out double by Washington first baseman Josh Bell. Utility player Jon Berti, starting his sixth game of the season, tied the game at 1-1 in top of the third when he laced a two-out double to score shortstop Miguel Rojas, who had led off the inning by getting on base via error.
