MIAMI -- Things have just clicked for the Nationals as of late.
After winning five of their past six (including sweeping Miami in Washington just a week earlier) coming into the series opener, the Nats continued their hot streak with a gargantuan offensive statement in a 15-7 win over the Marlins on Monday night at loanDepot park.
Washington had an 8-2 lead by the end of the fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Dylan Crews. Crews has now reached base safely in 17 of his past 22 games after missing 71 with a left oblique strain.
Josh Bell, meanwhile, sent echoes through loanDepot park with his bat as he mashed a homer in the sixth and another in the seventh, marking his first multihomer game of the year. The first blast traveled a Statcast-projected 431 feet to left-center, and the second traveled 413 feet to right.
On the bump, Cade Cavalli stumped Miami’s offense for the second time in six days. After giving up two runs on four hits and one walk over five innings in his second win of the season on Tuesday, Cavalli registered a near-identical outing Monday. He gave up the same number of runs and walks in the same number of innings, while Miami notched six hits. The win was Cavalli’s third of the season and of his career.
“Cavi, he’s been Cavalli,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He gave us five innings, and from there, it was just the bullpen. I’m glad that the offense helped so we can use some of the guys in different leverages. But it was nice to see him attack the strike zone and do his thing.
“He’s got nasty stuff. He’s got a good fastball, good change, a good curveball and he throws strikes. He attacks the hitters. He’s a warrior.”
It certainly aids a pitcher’s willingness to attack when his offense provides him with run support like Cavalli’s did Monday.
And no National was more impactful in the box score than Bell, whose six RBIs were one shy of his single-game career high. He also became the second player in Nationals history (2005-present) to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. (Danny Espinosa did so on June 30 and July 3, 2016.)
Bell went 4-for-6 in the win, while upping his season homer total to 19.
“He’s been unbelievable -- with the clubhouse, with the young kids,” Cairo said, “Every time he goes out there -- off the bench, playing first base -- he’s been outstanding. I’m glad that he’s here with me and with the team.”
Bell, who’s played with six teams (including two stints with Washington) since debuting in 2016, has a wealth of knowledge to impart to the Nationals’ young roster.
And though Cavalli’s tasks differ significantly from Bell, the lessons he’s gleaned from the veteran have been invaluable.
“He’s a straight up leader,” Cavalli said of his teammate. “His presence in here is known, and he’s locked in. It’s been fun to watch. He’s just a great player, great man. I’m happy that I’m teammates with him.”
Among those lessons: Bounce back from adversity.
Cavalli’s had quite the journey in his professional career.
A first-round selection by the Nats in the 2020 MLB Draft, his career began on the fast track.
Cavalli was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2021 and ‘22, going 6-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 97 innings with Triple-A Rochester in the latter. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 26, 2022, and finished the year with just one big league appearance after going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Cavalli was poised to take the next step in 2023, but he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery during Spring Training. He missed the entire campaign and returned in late ‘24 to make three rehab appearances in the Minors.
After spending most of 2025 in Triple-A, Cavalli received his call back to the bigs on Aug. 6. Thus far, he has a 3-1 record with a 4.67 ERA.
“It was amazing,” Cavalli said of being in the clubhouse as a player. “... When I walked in here, I was like, ‘Dang … from 2022 on … I’ve been in here as a rehabber.’
“Now I’m in here as a player, and it just takes me through the journey that I’ve been on, and I’m really grateful that God’s given me the health to be here and to be a teammate with these guys and be able to go compete for them.”
Talent has never been a question for the fireballing righty. And now that he has health on his side, he’s poised to catapult himself -- and his team -- into a bright future.