The Nationals claimed a 5:4 victory over the Marlins in their regular-season meeting on Friday night. It came just a day after they had dispatched the same opponents 9:2, establishing a quick turnaround between encounters. The margin was far narrower this time around, with the hosts holding on for a single-run win.
Both sides have been trading results of late, and these two games highlight that pattern. The Nationals showed more consistency on Thursday, while the Marlins had been struggling against Boston earlier in the week before finding their rhythm against the Red Sox on Saturday. The history between them adds an edge to every meeting.
What stands out is the contrast in form over the past fortnight. The Nationals have seen dramatic swings — from a 13:3 win to a 1:3 loss to the Rockies — but they kept their composure against their division rivals. The Marlins, meanwhile, came from a 3:7 defeat to Boston to win 4:0 before stepping into this contest.
By then, the game had settled into a rhythm where every run mattered. The Nationals did not blow it open early, and the Marlins kept pushing until the final frame. The old head settled them down when it counted, and that experience made the difference in a game decided by one run.