MIAMI (AP) – Despite a blowout loss, the Miami Marlins will embark on their first meaningful week to close a season since their 2003 World Series championship run.
Kurt Suzuki homered and doubled to bounce back from a game-ending strikeout in the opener, and the Washington Nationals routed the playoff-contending Marlins 15-0 Sunday to split a doubleheader.
In the opener, Marlins reliever Brandon Kintzler fanned Suzuki with the bases loaded to preserve a 2-1 win.
The split kept Miami a game ahead of Philadelphia for second place in the NL East. The top two teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild-card clubs in each league.