MIAMI _ The Marlins' All-Star came through in the clutch.
After Miami coughed up a 1-0 ninth-inning lead, J.T. Realmuto drove in the winning run in the 10th to give the Marlins a 2-1 walk-off win over the Nationals on Saturday night.
Rookie Trevor Richards notched a third consecutive stellar outing, but picked up a no-decision.
The 25-year-old tossed six scoreless innings, striking out eight, while allowing just three hits to pick up the victory for the Marlins. In his past three starts, Richards has allowed just one earned run and notched 18 strikeouts in 172/3 innings.
Richards, who made his major-league debut on Apr. 2, notched a no-decision, but lowered his ERA from 4.41 to 4.06. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in each of his past three starts.
Miami took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning, but Kyle Barraclough was unable to finish it off. After allowing the first two batters to reach base, the Marlins closer gave up an RBI single to Daniel Murphy to tie the game.
Hialeah native Gio Gonzalez was strong in his return to South Florida, giving up just three hits and one run in seven innings. The Marlins will look to split the four-game set on Sunday afternoon after dropping the previous two contests.
After a slow start, the Marlins broke through in the fourth inning. After loading the bases with no outs to start the frame, Yadier Rivera put the Fish on the board with a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Realmuto to give Miami a 1-0 lead. The Nationals were able to avoid any further damage in the fourth.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly went to the bullpen in the seventh inning as Adam Conley and Brad Ziegler combined to pitch a scoreless frame. Drew Steckenrider pitched a perfect eighth, but Barraclough was unable to close it out.
Trea Turner went 2-for-4 for the Nationals with two stolen bases on the night.
