Scrappy Nats rally in 9th: 'This team is just so awesome'

MIAMI -- The Nationals went through a wide range of emotions on Saturday afternoon, but in the end, they ended up celebrating yet another come-from-behind victory.

Washington entered the ninth inning down by one run after the host Marlins went ahead in the eighth on a solo home run from Jorge Soler.

Despite seeing their leadoff batter thrown out at home for the first out of the ninth, the Nationals still put up a pair of runs in a crazy sequence that secured a 3-2 win at loanDepot park. Washington has now won its past five series and goes for the sweep against a struggling Miami club on Sunday afternoon.

“That was a good one,” said manager Dave Martinez, whose team has won 11 of its past 14. “As I have said, our guys don’t quit. They play hard for 27 outs.’’

Miami looked like it was about to reverse its recent misfortunes with one out in the eighth after Soler pounced on a Jordan Weems fastball and deposited it into the Marlins’ bullpen beyond the left-field wall.

Only, Lane Thomas led off the top of the ninth with a triple to center to start yet another Nationals rally. After Joey Meneses was hit by a pitch, Dominic Smith grounded a ball to second baseman Luis Arraez, who made a spectacular play to get Thomas out at home.

But Washington kept the pressure on Miami closer David Robertson. Carter Kieboom popped out, but Jake Alu lined an RBI single that skipped through the middle of the infield to tie the game. Not only that, the Nationals ended up taking the lead with two outs when pinch-runner Michael Chavis raced home from third on a passed ball by catcher Jacob Stallings.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit,” said Alu. “I finally got the 3-2 count and got a strike there and got it down. You always want to be in those at-bats -- that is just who all of us are. It was fun to be there, but it was just another at-bat. It was a hell of a game, and … as of late, we’re just a scrappy team firing on all cylinders and getting it done.”

Pinch-runner Jacob Young -- who was making his Major League debut -- scored the tying run on Alu’s two-out, two-strike single.

Pretty memorable beginnings.

“I figured that was something that could happen when I started the game on the bench, so I was ready for it,” said Young, who posed for photos with family and friends on the field following the game. “It feels great when [Martinez] calls your name, because you know he trusts you. It was great to score the tying run and get the win.’’

Miami’s Bryan De La Cruz led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, but Jesús Sánchez grounded into a double play before Kyle Finnegan (24 saves) got Jon Berti to ground out to end the game.

“We battled, and [Alu] battled and got the 3-2 count and hit the ball hard to center field,’’ Martinez said. “Things happen, and it was a well-played game. I’m glad we came out on top. Now we have to go 1-0 again tomorrow.”

Lost in the craziness of the final couple innings was a terrific start from Jake Irvin, who went six strong. Irvin tossed 5 1/3 scoreless frames before Marlins slugger Josh Bell hit one out to tie the score at 1.

Prior to the homer, Miami had only placed three runners into scoring position -- including Stallings, who led off the third with a double but went no further.

“The way we’re playing ball right now, I just have to keep us in the game and those guys will do their thing,’’ said Irvin, who watched the ninth-inning rally from the team’s training room. “This team is just so awesome.”

Despite a terrific start from Marlins rookie Eury Pérez, the Nationals scored first for the second consecutive game. With two down in the fourth, Meneses doubled into the left-field corner for Washington’s first hit of the day, then scored when Smith grounded to short and reached on a throwing error.

That was all the scoring the Nationals could muster against the Marlins -- until the ninth. And that was good enough.

After the game, Martinez informed Young that he would get his first Major League start on Sunday. He said the game-tying run was the first of “many, many more.’’

Young, who hails from the Jacksonville, Fla., area, could have even more friends and family for the series finale down I-95 in Miami.

“More than I thought showed up, which was amazing,” Young said. “They are my rock and always have been. I had my fiancée, her family and my family here, and that means the world to me. No matter what, that first start will have some nerves to it, and if it did not, there’s something wrong with you, honestly. I am excited for it. But getting in today was definitely a nice way to get my feet-wet moment. I liked it a lot.”