Senzel homers twice, Nationals erase 7-0 deficit and beat Marlins 12-9

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)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday on social media that he won’t participate in the campaign debates sponsored by a nonpartisan commission, instead challenging Republican Donald Trump to a pair of debates.

“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020,” Biden posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. “Since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal.”

The Democrat suggested that the two candidates could pick some dates, taking a dig at Trump’s ongoing hush money trial by noting that the Republican is “free on Wednesdays,” the usual day off in the trial.

In addition to the post, Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates to say that Biden would not participate in its announced debates, choosing instead to participate in debates hosted by news organizations.

The president first indicated he would be willing to debate Trump during an interview with the radio host Howard Stern last month, telling him that “I am, somewhere. I don’t know when. But I’m happy to debate him.”

Biden indicated again last week that he was preparing to debate, telling reporters as he was leaving a White House event: “Set it up.”

Trump has repeatedly dared Biden to debate him, keeping a second podium open at rallies and claiming that his rival would not be up for the task.

Trump, too, has taken issue with the debate commission, but he and his team have maintained that they don’t care who hosts the debates as long as they happen.

The Trump campaign issued a statement on May 1 that objected to the scheduled debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates, saying that the schedule “begins AFTER early voting” and that “this is unacceptable” because voters deserve to hear from the candidates before ballots are cast.

Trump said at a Pennsylvania rally before his hush money trial began that the debates were needed.

“We have to debate because our country is going in the wrong direction so badly,” Trump said with the empty podium next to him. “We have to explain to the American people what the hell is going on.”

Former President Donald Trump, standing with defense attorney Todd Blanche, speaks after a court session outside his trial at Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, Pool)

In this combination photo, President Joe Biden speaks May 2, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C., left, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, May 1, 2024, in Waukesha, Wis. President Joe Biden says he won’t participate in the campaign debates sponsored by a nonpartisan commission, instead challenging Republican Donald Trump to a pair of debates. Biden said Wednesday that Trump lost two debates to him in 2020 and since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Biden proposes debating Trump twice. (AP Photo)

President Joe Biden speaks at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies' 30th annual gala, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)