Nationals grab an early lead, only for bullpen to falter in series-opening loss to Marlins

The Nationals were playing with fire all evening and eventually got burned.

They entered the sixth inning with a two-run lead despite giving the Marlins ample scoring opportunities early on. After starter Cade Cavalli allowed a leadoff single in the sixth inning, left-hander Richard Lovelady replaced him to face the left-handed pocket of Miami’s lineup.

The Marlins countered by pinch-hitting right-handed hitter Heriberto Hernández, who drove Lovelady’s 87.5 mph slider in the middle of the zone deep into the left field seats at Nationals Park for a two-run homer to tie the game.

Things got away from Lovelady quickly: Jakob Marsee took first base on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. First baseman Connor Norby’s RBI double gave the Marlins a one-run lead, and Lovelady recorded a Liam Hicks popout before being replaced by Paxton Schultz, who recorded a flyout to end the inning.

Washington was still only down a run until the ninth inning, when right-hander Cole Henry surrendered three more to make it a 7-3 loss to the Marlins (27-34) in the series opener.

“[Lovelady] got beat because he fell behind 3-1,” manager Blake Butera said. “When you’re behind 3-1 facing a righty, it’s tough. The key for Lovelady has been getting ahead and being able to expand the zone with his slider.”

With PJ Poulin on the injured list, Lovelady and Andrew Alvarez were the only available left-handers out of the bullpen for the Nationals. Butera said he planned to call on Lovelady in that spot because even if the Marlins started substituting their left-handed batters, it would give Washington’s right-handed relievers a good matchup later on.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough countered by pinch-hitting Hernández, a right-hander, for Owen Caissie like the Nationals expected.

“[The move] didn’t work out, but was fully planning on Hernández to pinch-hit there,” Butera said. “Still like the matchup instead of Cade facing Caissie, and then two more lefties right after that, when he’s coming up on 90 pitches.”

Monday night wasn’t the sharpest, most efficient outing for Cavalli, who required 89 pitches to get into the sixth inning. He struggled with his command in the first two innings and needed 47 pitches to put the Marlins away.

In the first inning, Cavalli found himself in a one-out, bases-loaded jam. He struck out Leo Jiménez but allowed a run after walking Caissie.

In the second inning, Cavalli allowed a single before recording back-to-back outs. Otto Lopez’s single gave the Marlins runners on first and second, but Cavalli collected himself and induced a flyout to end the frame. Cavalli said he wasn’t landing his fastball in the upper half of the zone like he wanted to, which ratcheted up his pitch count.

“We fought hard, got in a groove there, and we had a chance to win the ballgame against a really good club,” said Cavalli, who allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings pitched.

The first two innings were about survival for Cavalli: The Marlins left five men on base and were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. They had chances to build a big lead early, but Cavalli didn’t let the game snowball.

The Nationals’ offense picked up its starter in the bottom half of the second. Shortstop CJ Abrams led the inning off with a single and center fielder Jacob Young hammered a 2-2 curveball for a two-run homer that gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Cavalli found his rhythm after the second and retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. Adjusting midgame has been a strength for Cavalli this season, and the Nationals needed it Monday.

“Whenever I’m attacking and have some good count leverage, guys have to honor a couple different pitches,” Cavalli said.

But the offense couldn’t create enough run-scoring opportunities.

After Curtis Mead’s third-inning RBI single extended the lead to 3-1, the Nationals’ offense dried up and the team didn’t have a baserunner reach second base for the rest of the contest. The Nationals had just two runners in scoring position all night.

Washington (31-30) threatened a rally in the seventh with a leadoff single from Daylen Lile. But Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara retired Young, José Tena and Keibert Ruiz to keep the Nationals at bay.