Josh Bell Powers Nationals Past Marlins 15-7 With Historic Switch-Hitting Night in Miami

Monday, September 8th, 2025

Washington Nationals Dominate Miami Marlins 15-7 with Josh Bell's Historic Performance

The Washington Nationals delivered a commanding offensive display against the Miami Marlins, securing a 15-7 victory on Monday night. Josh Bell made history by becoming only the second Nationals player to homer from both sides of the plate in a single game. Bell finished with four hits and a career-matching six RBI, powering the Nationals to match their season highs in both runs and hits, totaling 19 hits in the matchup.

Josh Bell’s Historic Night

Josh Bell's remarkable game saw him driving in runs from both sides of the plate. After giving Washington a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning, Bell—batting right-handed—blasted a two-run homer in the sixth to stretch the lead to 10-2. Later, hitting left-handed, Bell clubbed a 413-foot, two-run home run deep into the largely empty right-field upper deck for his 19th homer of the season. His RBI single in the ninth inning tied his career-high for most hits in one game.

Bell joins Danny Espinosa as the only other Nationals player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. Espinosa achieved the feat twice in a four-game series in 2016, collecting five homers and 15 RBI during that stretch.

Additional Nationals Standouts

Dylan Crews and Luis García Jr each contributed home runs as the Nationals put together one of their most productive games of the season. Crews notched four RBI and capped a six-run fifth inning with a two-out homer, extending the Nationals' lead to 8-2. Meanwhile, García homered in the second off Miami’s Janson Junk, who was making his first start since returning from the injured list. Junk allowed six runs and eight hits over 4.1 innings.

Pitching Highlights

Cade Cavalli claimed the win for Washington, improving his record to 3-1. He surrendered just two runs and six hits across five innings. For Miami, Janson Junk took the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits. Relief pitcher Josh Simpson was tagged twice for home runs in the sixth inning.

Miami Marlins Notable Performances

Victor Mesa Jr responded for the Marlins with a home run, a double, and three RBI. Jakob Marsee also contributed with a solo shot, but Miami was unable to keep pace with the Nationals’ explosive offense. Notably, attendance at loanDepot park was sparse, with just 7,992 fans in the stands, marking Miami's 12th game this season with under 8,000 in attendance.

Key Moment

Dylan Crews' two-out homer in the fifth inning was a turning point for the Nationals, capping a six-run rally that put Washington in firm control of the game.

Key Stat

The Nationals tied their season high for both runs and hits in a single game, underlining the strength of their performance in Miami.

Up Next

The four-game series continues on Tuesday as Washington sends left-hander Mitchell Parker (7-15, 5.87 ERA) to the mound to face Miami right-hander Adam Mazur (0-2, 5.74 ERA). Both teams will look to carry momentum into the next matchup at loanDepot park.

In summary

The Washington Nationals overwhelmed the Miami Marlins with a 15-7 victory, highlighted by Josh Bell’s historic switch-hit home run performance and robust contributions from Dylan Crews and Luis García Jr. Cade Cavalli's strong start and a breakout offensive display helped Washington tie their season highs for runs and hits. The Nationals look to build on this momentum as the series continues in Miami.

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