MIAMI (AP) — Nick Senzel homered twice and drove in five runs as the Washington Nationals erased an early seven-run deficit to beat the reeling Miami Marlins 12-9 on Sunday.
Trey Lipscomb and Jacob Youg had three hits while Alex Call reached base five times on two singles, two walks and a hit by pitch for the Nationals.
“I was able to put two good swings on the ball today and it helped us fight back for the win,” Senzel said. “The message in the dugout was keep on chipping away and grinding at bats away.”
The comeback was the Nationals’ largest since they overcame a 9-0 deficit to defeat the Marlins 14-12 on July 5, 2018.
“This group - I say it all the time – they fight, they play hard and are relentless,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “They stick together. It’s been a fun group so far. They’re hungry to win and you can see that.”
The Marlins lost their sixth straight and fell to an NL worst 6-23. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit his second grand slam homer of the season for Miami, which is 2-14 at home.
“That’s a tough one. You feel really good after the second inning up 7-0,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “The record is the record until we figure it out. I have to figure it out because I don’t like losing. I hate losing.”
It was the second consecutive game the Nationals scored double digit runs in the series after their 11-4 win on Saturday. The Nationals will seek the four-game series sweep on Monday and have already surpassed last season’s wins against Miami, when they finished 2-11.
Down 7-0, Washington narrowed the deficit with a five-run fourth off Marlins starter Ryan Weathers. Young hit an RBI double and scored on CJ Abrams’ two-run double. Senzel then connected with a two-run shot.
“I don’t think we blinked when were down 7-0,” Young said. “Let’s get a couple here and couple there. We did a great job of putting pressure on them constantly. A couple of big hits here and there and next thing you know we’re suddenly in the lead.”
Senzel put Washington ahead 9-7 with a three-run drive off reliever Anthony Bender (0-2) in the fifth. The 411-foot shot over the wall in center was Senzel’s fifth of the season.
The Nationals padded their lead in the sixth, when Ildamero Vargas raced home on the front end of a successful double steal.
Derek Law (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He lost his first decision before getting the win in Friday’s series opener. Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his ninth save.
Weathers allowed six runs and five hits in four-plus innings. The left-hander walked three and hit three batters.
Miami hit around in a six-run first against Washington starter Patrick Corbin. Chisholm’s blast made it 4-0, Dane Myers and Vidal Brujan hit consecutive triples and Nick Fortes capped the early outburst with an RBI single.
Corbin gave up seven runs (four earned) and eight hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out four.
“Sometimes those innings happen but you still try to go out there and pitch as deep as you can in the game,” Corbin said of the first inning. “I was just trying to eat up as many innings as I could and minimize damage.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: OF Victor Robles (left hamstring strain) has increased his running activities with the anticipation of beginning rehab games soon. ... INF-OF Jake Alu cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
Marlins: Placed OF Avisaíl García (left hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list and recalled Myers from Triple-A Jacksonville. The club also selected the contract of RHP Emmanuel Ramírez from Jacksonville and designated LHP Kent Emanuel for assignment.
UP NEXT
RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 4.55) will start the series finale for the Nationals on Monday, while the Marlins will go with LHP Trevor Rogers (0-3, 4.10).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Washington Nationals' Trey Lipscomb (38) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. celebrates as he rounds second base after hitting a grand slam during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Miami. Chisholm, Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz and Josh Bell scored on the play. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Washington Nationals' Jacob Young hits a single scoring Trey Lipscomb during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams (5) congratulates Nick Senzel (13) after Senzel hit a home run scoring Abrams during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
BALTIMORE (AP) — Preakness days in recent years have featured water and plumbing miscues. A large section of the grandstand at Pimlico Race Course has been rendered unusable because it's condemned, and much of the rest of the storied but decaying track is a relic to the sport of king's heyday many yesteryears ago.
The home of the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown had become something of an eyesore, far from the glitzy palace of Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.
The 149th rendition of the Preakness on Saturday will be the last before a massive reconstruction project begins at Pimlico, and with that brings a mix of nostalgia over the vaunted venue but also hope for the future because fixing up the old place has been long overdue.
Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and a longtime staple of the industry in Maryland, knows all too well the contrasting feelings as someone who attends the Preakness annually sitting in the clubhouse at Pimlico, which first opened in 1870 and hasn't gotten significant upgrades since the mid-20th century.
“You want to feel nostalgic, but then you look up at the ceiling and you worry that it’s going to fall in on you,” Rooney said. "It’s kind of a bittersweet year, but I think the people are going to be very proud of the final result in a couple years.”
After more than a decade of uncertainty and questions about what would become of the Preakness and racing in the state, Gov. Wes Moore last week signed into law a bill for a $400 million rebuild. The complicated process involves Maryland taking over control of the track, building a training center and eventually closing Laurel Park to shift full-time racing to Pimlico in the northwest quadrant of Baltimore.
For those who tune in once a year when the sport's spotlight shines on it for the Preakness, it means an abrupt shift, with the race being moved to Laurel Park down the interstate halfway to Washington in 2026 before a planned return to Pimlico in 2027, much like the Belmont Stakes' two-year hiatus at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York while the Long Island track is completely revamped. The hope is to restore some of the Preakness glory that faded with Pimlico's deteriorating conditions.
“It’s going to create a much better home for the Preakness,” said Greg Cross, chairman of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority that's overseeing the project. “It’s a statement that we’re not going to lightly let 150 years of history just go away.”
Some of the biggest names in the sport don't want to see everything go away, namely the stakes barn that houses the Preakness horses in close proximity a few minutes' walk from the track, something that does not happen at other major races.
“That barn is so special, and there’s been so many amazing horses that have walked through that barn,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, who is bringing Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to the Preakness, looking for his second victory in the race. “The grandstand, obviously, needs to be revamped, and that’s wonderful. I think we could take this sport into another era with some changes there and leave the Preakness barn alone."
Alan Foreman, another member of the authority, understands those concerns and said, “Change is difficult, but the status quo for racing could not guarantee survival of the industry.”
Without casino revenue like other states and with myriad issues over who would pay for changes, just getting to this point months from demolition is a wire-to-wire win, especially given how many plans over the years fell through the cracks.
“There is nervous anticipation among the racing community because until the wrecking ball hits Pimlico, they see designs and they see the actual timeline but I think many are still skeptical about whether this gets done or not,” Foreman said. “Part of it’s been trying to convince people that this is different than previous iterations and that this is going to happen.”
D. Wayne Lukas, who has trained a Preakness-record 46 horses, won it six times and has two more running in it this weekend, is glad officials have worked to keep the race in Maryland, in Baltimore and at Pimlico.
“I can appreciate the fact they’re going to start over with it,” the 88-year-old Hall of Famer said.
Starting over, much like Belmont Park, means a much smaller grandstand and footprint and more outdoor space to adjust to modern horse racing, where sparser crowds on normal days are expected but with the chance to expand usable space for the Preakness and other special events. It could be the start of horse racing's version of vintage ballparks replacing cookie-cutter, multisport stadiums, a revolution that began a short ride away at Camden Yards.
“The sport and entertainment environment has changed: You have to adapt to the current environment and plan for the future,” Foreman said. "I think that Maryland is going to be very much a lab experiment for the racing industry as to what the future could look like.”
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
FILE - A crew works on putting up a platform near the main entrance at Pimlico Race Course, May 15, 2020, in Baltimore. The storied but decaying home of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Pimlico Race Course, is finally on the verge of much-needed repairs. The Preakness on Saturday, May 18, 2024 will be the last before work begins, with the race in 2025 set to be run mid-construction before moving to Laurel Park in 2026 and returning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - A dilapidated grandstand, which is off limits to fans, and adjacent to the main grandstand is seen ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, May 19, 2022, in Baltimore. The storied but decaying home of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Pimlico Race Course, is finally on the verge of much-needed repairs. The Preakness on Saturday, May 18, 2024 will be the last before work begins, with the race in 2025 set to be run mid-construction before moving to Laurel Park in 2026 and returning. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, file)
FILE - A spectator walks past a closed section of grandstands at Pimlico Race Course ahead of the Black Eyed Susan horse race, May 17, 2019, in Baltimore. The storied but decaying home of the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Pimlico Race Course, is finally on the verge of much-needed repairs. The Preakness on Saturday, May 18, 2024 will be the last before work begins, with the race in 2025 set to be run mid-construction before moving to Laurel Park in 2026 and returning. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file)
