© Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Marlins Drop Heartbreaker to Atlanta Braves in Ninth Inning to Lose Series
The Miami Marlins were THIS close to their first series win of the year
The Miami Marlins rallied in the middle inning but were unable to hold a late lead as they lost on Sunday afternoon to the Atlanta Braves, 9-7, to drop the series.
Here's what you need to know about from the contest:
Jesús Sanchez struggled again
Miami's Opening Day starter gave up runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings to stake the Marlins to an early 5-0 deficit. Giving up eight hard hit balls in his five innings, he ended up being charged with five runs allowed on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. He threw an inefficient 94 pitches (60 strikes) and took a no-decision, although Miami has lost all four of his starts on the season.
Luzardo's ERA is now 7.65 on the year, and of qualified starters, only Patrick Corbin of the Washington Nationals has an higher ERA.
The offense cashed in most of their limited opportunities
For striking out fourteen games and only picking up nine hits, it wasn't a bad offensive game for Miami. Marlins hitters went 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding only three in the contest.
The biggest hit came from leftfielder Nick Gordon, whose fifth-inning homer off of reliever Dylan Lee staked Miami to a two-run lead. It's been an absolute run of clutch homers from the utilityman:
Series finale against Pittsburgh - ties the game in the 9th with a solo homer
Series finale against St. Louis - three-run shot in the first inning to stake Miami to a six-run lead
Series finale against Atlanta - two-run shot to stake Miami to a two-run lead
Miami's got some injury concerns after this one
Miami saw two lineup regulars exit due to injury in this one; third baseman Jake Burger pulled up and grabbed his side after trying to beat out a ground ball in the 1st inning - he would later leave the game, replaced by recent acquisition Emmanuel Rivera. Vidal Bruján, playing shortstop in this series due to the illness of Tim Anderson, tweaked a knee on a 5th-inning double and was later replaced for the 7th inning by Anderson.
Burger was diagnosed with an oblique issue; both players are day-to-day as of now and there are no indications as to if they're expected back in the lineup soon or will be going on the injured list tomorrow.
Tanner Scott, once again, struggled to close one out
Scott cameo'd as the closer last September, picking up nine of his twelve saves on the season. With trade acquisition A.J. Puk moving to the rotation this year, Scott was expected to fill the closer role for 2024.
But perhaps we should have been paying more attention to Scott's three blown leads in September - perhaps we didn't notice them because Miami came back to win two of those three contests, another example of how the Marlins overperformed in close and one-run games in 2023.
Scott, staked to a one-run lead in the 9th, couldn't put this one away. Ronald Acuña Jr. singled to open the inning, and after rebounding to get two quick outs, he walked Matt Olson to give Marcell Ozuna a chance to bat.
And Ozuna, who leads the league in RBIs and is tied for the lead in homers, got to both of those marks with a two-out, two-strike homer that gave Atlanta a two-run lead and the win. It's the third loss of the season for Scott in just seven appearances, and he's now allowed six runs (four earned) in 7.2 innings on the season.
What's next for the Miami Marlins?
Miami's hosting the San Francisco Giants and old friend Jorge Soler to loanDepot Park, with Kyle Harrison set to take on A.J. Puk. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET.
