Joey Meneses helps Nationals down Marlins

Joey Meneses lined a go-ahead, two-run single to center in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals defeated the host Miami Marlins 3-1 on Friday night.

The Nationals also got two hits each from Trey Lipscomb and Jacob Young -- their eighth and ninth hitters in the lineup -- and four scoreless innings from their bullpen.

Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who had been scheduled to start, was placed on injured reserve due to elbow tightness.

Luzardo is the fifth Marlins starting pitcher to go on the injured reserve this season, joining Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett. Only Cabrera has returned.

With Luzardo out, Anthony Maldonado made his major league debut, starting the game and pitching three scoreless innings. He had been Miami's closer at Triple-A this year.

Nationals starter Trevor Williams -- like Maldonado -- got a no-decision. Williams allowed five hits, two walks and one run in five innings.

The win went to Nationals reliever Derek Law (1-1). Law, who played locally for Miami Dade College, pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five.

Calvin Faucher (1-1) took the loss, allowing three hits, two walks and two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Miami opened the scoring in the third inning on Nick Fortes' RBI single, a blooper down the right-field line. Vidal Brujan, who had hit a leadoff single, scored from second base.

Washington tied the score in the sixth inning, loading the bases with no outs on singles by Young and CJ Abrams and a walk by Jesse Winker. Young scored on Meneses' double-play grounder.

The Nationals surged ahead 3-1 in the eighth. Lipscomb singled and advanced on Young's sacrifice bunt. Abrams was then intentionally walked before Winker's infield single loaded the bases. Meneses' two-run single to center gave Washington the lead. Lipscomb scored easily, but Abrams had to make a stellar dive to reach the plate before Fortes' tag.

--Field Level Media