Andrew Alvarez allowed one hit over five innings in his major league debut and the Washington Nationals snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the visiting Miami Marlins on Monday.
Called up from Triple-A Rochester to take the start in place of the injured MacKenzie Gore, the 26-year-old left-hander became the sixth Nationals starter (since 2005) to win his debut.
Alvarez, Washington’s 12th-round pick in the 2021 draft, did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and threw 81 pitches, striking out four and walking two.
The Washington bullpen allowed one hit over the final four innings with Jose A. Ferrer working the ninth for his fifth save.
Luis Garcia, Jr. had two hits for the Nationals. Catcher C.J. Stubbs, also making his big league debut, went 0-for-3.
Heriberto Hernández doubled for Miami, which was looking for its third straight win.
Marlins opener Lake Bachar (5-2) allowed two runs on two hits in two innings. Miami relievers allowed one hit over six scoreless innings.
Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards was ejected by home plate umpire Brennan Miller after grounding out in the first inning.
Washington took its first lead in nine games with a two-run first. Luis Garcia, Jr. singled and scored on Daylen Lile’s triple. Lile scored on a sacrifice fly by Andres Chaparro.
Garcia singled with one out in the fourth, but Victor Mesa, Jr. made a sliding catch on Lile’s bloop to left to short-circuit a potential rally.
In the Miami fifth, Eric Wagaman walked with one out and Mesa singled, but Alvarez got Javier Sanoja to ground into a fielder’s choice and struck out Joey Wiemer to end the threat.
Heriberto Hernández doubled with one out in the seventh, but Konnor Pilkington struck out Wagaman and Mesa.
Lile walked and stole second with one out in bottom half, but George Soriano came on and retired Chaparro and Robert Hassell III.
