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Marlins' Urena throws complete game while appealing suspension

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

WASHINGTON (AP) Jose Urena made the most of his borrowed time, pitching a two-hitter for his first complete game in the majors and leading the Miami Marlins over the Washington Nationals 12-1 on Sunday.

Urena (4-12) was suspended for six games by Major League Baseball after hitting Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. on Wednesday. Urena was ejected from that start after throwing only one pitch and appealed the penalty, keeping him eligible to play.

Urena, tied for the NL lead in hit batters, didn't plunk anyone on the Nationals. He struck out four, walked two and retired the last 16 batters. It was his first complete game in 74 big league starts.

The 26-year-old right-hander's next start would normally be scheduled for next weekend at home against the Braves. Urena could decide to drop the appeal, serve the suspension and miss that series.

Starlin Castro got a career-high five hits and scored three times. JT Riddle and J.T. Realmuto each homered and drove in three runs for Miami, with Riddle connecting for the second straight game. Isaac Galloway had three hits, including his first career homer.

Trying to keep pace with the Braves and Phillies in the NL East, the third-place Nationals have now lost four of their last five games against the last-place Marlins. The Nationals host the Phillies for three games beginning Tuesday night.

Washington starter Gio Gonzalez (7-10) allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Over his last 13 starts, Gonzalez is 1-8 with 7.07 ERA.

Leading 3-1, the Marlins broke it open with a five-run fifth. After Riddle's sacrifice fly made 4-1, the Marlins loaded the bases and Rafael Ortega hit a bases-loaded, two-run double off the glove of a diving first baseman Matt Adams to end Gonzalez's afternoon.

Realmuto greeted reliever Greg Holland with a two-run single, making it 8-1.

The Marlins took a 3-0 lead in the third. After a pair of walks, Castro blooped an RBI single in front of center fielder Bryce Harper. Austin Dean then lined a two-run double over the head of Harper, who appeared to misread it off the bat.

Harper rushed in and dropped Brian Anderson's flyball for an error in the seventh. Michael A. Taylor took over in center to start the eighth.

Washington's run came on Adam Eaton's double in the second.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: INF/OF Garrett Cooper (right wrist sprain) went 0 for 3 in a rehab game with Single-A Jupiter on Sunday. He played six innings at first base.

Nationals: Manager Dave Martinez said RHP Stephen Strasburg (cervical nerve impingement), who threw a bullpen session Saturday, will come off the DL and start Wednesday versus the Phillies. ''He feels good,'' Martinez said. ''He says he's ready.'' . Martinez is hopeful that reliever Kelvin Herrera (right rotator cuff impingement) will return for the Phillies series. . RHP Sean Doolittle (left toe inflammation) threw a bullpen session Saturday.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (2-3, 4.79) starts when the Marlins host the Yankees in the first of two games on Tuesday night. It will be his first start against the Yankees.

Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (8-12, 4.13) opposes the visiting Phillies on Tuesday night. He's 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA against the Phillies this season, but 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA overall since the All-Star break.

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