The Washington Nationals fought hard to erase an early deficit, but the Miami Marlins delivered a late-game knockout, securing a 5-2 victory and taking the series in the Sunshine State. This loss marks the Nationals' first series defeat on the road since their trip to face the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of March.

The game started quietly, with just two combined hits over the first two innings. But the Marlins struck in the third inning when Nationals starter Cavalli issued a leadoff walk and allowed a single, putting a runner in scoring position. An RBI single broke the scoreless tie, and a fielding error by Nasim Nunez on a potential double play allowed a second run to cross the plate.

Washington responded quickly in the fourth. Luis Garcia Jr. smashed a leadoff triple, and Brady House brought him home with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1. Daylen Lile kept the momentum going with a two-out double into left-center, but the rally stalled when Jacob Young lined out to center field.

The Nationals finally tied the game in the fifth inning. Jorbit Vivas singled to right, and Nunez drew a walk to put two runners on. A grounder from James Wood advanced both runners, setting the stage for Garcia Jr., who laced a double to left-center, scoring Vivas and knotting the game at 2-2.

Cavalli's day nearly unraveled in the sixth when he hit two batters—three of his last four faced—loading the bases. But the defense came up clutch. Brady House fielded a grounder and made a smart play to throw home, cutting down the runner well before he could score. Manager Blake Butera then turned to reliever PJ Poulin, who induced a groundout to end the threat and keep the game tied.

With the score still deadlocked at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Marlins mounted their decisive rally against reliever Gus Varland. Consecutive batters reached base, setting the stage for a three-run inning that broke the game open and sealed the Nationals' fate.