Braxton Garrett, newly promoted from Triple-A, pitched six innings of one-run ball, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Garrett (3-6), pitching for the first time in the majors since Sept. 12, allowed five hits and no walks. He struck out six for his fifth quality start in 15 tries this year.
Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the year.
Nationals starter Josiah Gray (7-10) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk in six innings. He has faced the Marlins (62-89) six times this season, going 0-3 with a 5.71 ERA.
However, Gray — who entered the game leading the NL in most homers (37) and walks (63) allowed — showed progress on both fronts.
Washington (52-98) scored on the second pitch of the game as Lane Thomas lined a 0-1 fastball just over the fence down the left field line. Garrett struck out the next three to end the inning.
Miami tied the score in the bottom of the first as Jon Berti started the rally with a ground-ball double down the third-base line. After Brian Anderson was hit by a pitch, Berti scored on Garrett Cooper’s RBI double that one-hopped the wall in left. Anderson, though, was stranded at third as Gray notched two straight strikeouts and a groundout.
Miami took a 4-1 lead in the sixth, loading the bases on singles by Cooper and Nick Fortes and a walk to JJ Bleday, who battled back from a 1-2 count. The RBIs went to Bryan De La Cruz (hit by pitch) and Charles Leblanc (single). Miguel Rojas hit a double play to plate the final run of the inning.
The Marlins loaded the bases again in the seventh, this time with one out. Bleday’s sacrifice fly gave Miami a 5-1 lead.
Washington cut its deficit to 5-2 in the eighth on CJ Abrams’ leadoff double and Joey Meneses’ two-out double.
–Field Level Media