The Solano brothers combined to score the lead run in the bottom of the eighth Wednesday afternoon, and after the Miami Marlins added an insurance run, they held on to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-4.
With the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Donovan Solano reached on an error to put runners at first and second. A Scott Sizemore ground ball led to a force out at third but moved Solano into scoring position. With two outs two hitters later, Jhonathan Solano singled home his younger brother.
Pinch hitter Reed Johnson followed with an RBI single that scored Jhonathan Solano to give the Marlins an insurance run they would need.
In the top of the ninth, Washington's Matt Skole homered (2) over the center field wall to pull his team to within one at 5-4. The Nationals would eventually get a man on via an error but leave him stranded as Sandy Leon flew out to end the game.
Miami took a 2-0 lead by scoring one run in each of the second and third innings via RBI singles from Adeiny Hechavarria and Giancarlo Stanton. Washington tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to Dan Uggla's RBI ground-rule double and Ryan Zimmerman's RBI groundout that brought Uggla home.
The two teams then traded solo home runs. Washington's Clint Robinson (2) put his team ahead in the fifth, and Stanton (1) launched his first spring home run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3.
Nick Masset (W: 1-0, 4.50 ERA) benefited from the Salonos' heroics to earn the win. He pitched the eighth inning, allowing one hit but nothing more. Andrew McKirahan (S: 1) worked the ninth for the save. He allowed Skole's home run but then shut the door from there.
Washington's Blake Treinen (L: 0-1, 0.00 ERA) allowed three hits and the go-ahead runs in the eighth. Both runs were unearned. He struck out two in his only inning of work.
On Thursday, the Marlins will visit the Atlanta Braves, and Washington will host the Detroit Tigers. Both games will start at 1:05 p.m. EDT.