The Nationals enter this mid-week series with the Cincinnati Reds looking to bounce back after dropping two in a row to wrap up the weekend in Miami. It will be Miles Mikolas looking to get Washington right, as he faces off against a righty who’s had an up-and-down start to the season in Brady Singer.

The Washington Nationals dropped the rubber match to the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot park, as a three-run eighth inning killed what had been another encouraging outing from Cade Cavalli. Washington tied the game in the fifth after Luis García Jr. ripped an RBI double to left, scoring Jorbit Vivas after Brady House had driven in the Nationals’ first run an inning earlier. García finished with two extra-base hits and accounted for half of Washington’s RBIs, while Daylen Lile added a pair of hits as the Nationals managed six hits total against Sandy Alcantara and Miami’s bullpen. Cavalli continued to settle in, allowing two runs (one earned) across 5 2/3 innings while striking out four, leaving just one out shy of a quality start.

After the Nationals bullpen held the game even through seven innings, the Marlins broke through against Gus Varland in the eighth. Back-to-back walks and aggressive baserunning set the table before Christopher Morel lined a go-ahead single into center field, giving Miami its first run since the third. Heriberto Hernández followed later in the frame with a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2 and put the game out of reach. Washington went quietly in the ninth, dropping the series after winning Friday’s opener and falling to 19-22 on the season.

On Deck…

This series will continue on Wednesday evening, when Jake Irvin is set to take the mound against Nick Lodolo in what will be just his second start of the year.

In the hole…

Thursday’s matinee is set to be a potential pitcher’s duel, as Foster Griffin will face off with Chase Burns, a 23 year-old flamethrower who has an ERA just .01 better than Griffin’s with one more out recorded on the season. The Nationals will then travel home to face the Orioles on Friday in D.C.