Sánchez pitches Nationals past Marlins 9-3

WASHINGTON  — Aníbal Sánchez pitched seven effective innings, Trea Turner drove in three runs and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 9-3 on Sunday.

Sánchez (1-3) allowed one run and five hits in his longest outing of the season. The veteran right-hander went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his first three starts this month.

“He was good. That’s the Aníbal that I’ve known for a very long time,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Turner went 3 for 3 and scored two runs. Rookie Luis Garcia also had three hits and scored three times for the Nationals, who have alternated wins and losses over their last 10 games.

It was the second three-hit performance in eight games for Garcia after being called in to replace Starlin Castro, who is out after having wrist surgery.

Turner put Washington ahead to stay with an RBI single in the second. He capped the Nationals’ five-run fifth with a two-run triple, driving in Carter Kieboom and Victor Robles to make it 9-1.

Miami right-hander Humberto Mejía (0-2) allowed four runs, two earned, and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Corey Dickerson hit his third homer of the season and second in as many days to get the Marlins on the board in the second. Jon Berti singled in Magneuris Sierra in the ninth and scored on Jesus Sanchez’s double.

“It’s one of those games you walk away from and you’re disappointed, but you don’t deserve to win,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

STRASBURG’S SURGERY

World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg will have surgery on his pitching hand Wednesday in Baltimore to correct a nerve problem that ended his season after just two appearances.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo called it “a repetition injury,” adding: “You can only surmise that it’s from throwing breaking pitches and changeups throughout his lifetime and career, and I think it’s taken its toll on him in that regard.”

Rizzo said the team is confident it will not be a long-term issue for the right-hander, who signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in the offseason.

With Washington still trying to find its winning ways from 2019, Sánchez feels the Nationals can still come together without one of their stars in Strasburg.

“I know that ‘Stras’ is out and it’s a big loss for the team,” Sánchez said. “He’s a really big piece on the mound for us. At the end we need to find someone to do that. It’s not going to be the same for sure but we need to continue to pitch and work with what we got.”

WHAT A PLAY

Brinson robbed Soto of a two-run homer with an outstanding leaping grab in the first inning.

ROSTER MOVE

Miami placed catcher Francisco Cervelli on the seven-day injured list and selected the contract of catcher Brian Navarreto from its alternative training site. Making his major league debut, Navarreto singled in the sixth and finished 2 for 3.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Dickerson left in the fifth after jumping through a gap in the netting on the third-base line and landing in the stands after attempting to catch a Juan Soto foul ball. He was holding his left arm as he walked back into the dugout but afterwards said he felt he would be available on Monday. Corey Dickerson: “I found the one little hole in the net. … Luckily I dodged a bullet right there.”

Nationals: Rizzo said LHP Sean Doolittle (right knee) is “making strides” at the team’s alternate training site. “He’s working on mechanics and arm strength and those type of things. He’s working extremely hard,” Rizzo said. “He’s as frustrated as we are about getting himself back. But I have all the confidence in the world he’s going to help us this year — and he is in the same mindset.”

UP NEXT

Right-hander Austin Voth (0-2, 5.00 ERA) starts for Washington in the series finale on Monday against Miami right-hander Pablo Lopez (2-1, 2.42 ERA).