MIAMI -- Jacob Young has one goal when he gets on base: wreak havoc.

It’s something he’s done exceptionally well so far in his young career, and one of many reasons he fits so well into the Nationals’ big league clubhouse.

Young's speed -- and impressive baseball IQ -- was on display as he scored the game-winning run (after stealing two bases) in the Nationals’ 7-2 win over the Marlins on Monday night at loanDepot park. The victory pulled the Nats back to .500 for the first time since March 30.

“I love watching them play,” manager Dave Martinez said. “The energy was fabulous. So we just gotta keep going out there and keep playing the game, right from the first inning. You know, play for 27 outs. And hopefully at the end of the day we come out on top.”

The Nationals sure came out on top in Miami, completing their first four-game sweep in Miami in 10 years (since Sept. 18-21, 2014), and first overall four-game sweep since Sept. 23-26, 2019, vs. the Phils (which was a five-game sweep due to a doubleheader on Sept. 24).

Young was one of a plethora, up and down the Nats’ lineup, to help deliver in Miami. The rookie outfielder -- an unranked prospect and seventh-round pick in the 2021 Draft out of the University of Florida -- has hit safely in his past seven games, going 8-for-16 (.500) in the four games vs. the Marlins. And so much of his game ties back to that one key focus -- havoc on the bases.

The thing is, Young hasn’t just been good on the basepaths; he’s been perfect. This year, Young is 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts. With a pair of stolen bases on Monday, Young moved into a three-way tie for the fourth-most consecutive stolen bases without being caught to start a career since 1951, when caught stealing was first tracked in both leagues.

That list is as follows:

1. Tim Locastro: 29
2. Tim Raines: 27
3. Mitchell Page: 26
T4. Quintin Berry: 25
T4. Jacoby Ellsbury: 25
T4. Jacob Young: 25*

*still active

Young treats baserunning like any other part of his game: He actively gameplans with Nats coaches to tailor his jumps to different pitchers and catchers. His dedication to the craft has paid off bigtime. In just 21 games, Young is third in stolen bases in MLB this year, behind the Brewers’ Brice Turang (13 steals in 26 games) and the Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13 in 27 games) with the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz leading the way (18 steals in 29 games).

“It's really tough,” said Marlins starter Trevor Rogers. “... It kind of takes your whole thought process away from the hitter a little bit, when [Alex] Call or Young or [CJ] Abrams gets on the base. Young is pretty much like [Ronald Acuña Jr.]. You know he's going to go and you've just got to do your best.”

Young, of course, isn’t the only National that can swipe a bag or two. Washington’s 52 stolen bases are tied with Cincinnati for the most in Major League Baseball, and the Nats have played one game fewer than the Reds. Over the four games against the Marlins, the Nationals stole a combined 12 bases.

While opposing pitchers might hate playing against the Nats because of their baserunning, it’s something that Washington places a high value in -- ask anyone and they’ll tell you, it’s just who they are.

“It's awesome -- it's an identity for us, and that's really cool,” said starter Jake Irvin. “I think we do some really, really fun things -- I think offensively, defensively -- just kind of changing the game, making guys on the other side of the ball, the field, question what we're going to do at all times. It's really special and I love what those guys are doing.”

Prior to Young’s ascension, it was Abrams who led the Nationals’ running game, with 47 steals last season.

As the leadoff hitter, Abrams is often hitting behind Young (who bats ninth). It happened on Monday, when Abrams -- who had already sparked the Nats with a two-run home run in the third, his seventh of the season -- walked after Young’s two-out single (and stolen base) in the fifth inning. The pair then executed a double steal before Young cruised home on Jesse Winker’s bases-loaded walk.

“Now that Jacob’s doing what he’s doing, watching those two guys run around the bases is pretty cool,” Martinez said.

“[Jacob] gets on a lot,” Abrams said, “and then when he does, he gets an extra 90 feet with a lot of stolen bases. It makes my job a little easier to drive him in. … I love to watch [him].

“It gives me more fastballs as well, [when] he's stealing, it's always in the back of their head. So -- just keep stealing, Jacob.”