Stat Wrap: Miami Marlins Drop Opener In Extras, Lose 8-7

The start time for tonight’s contest was a bit delayed- largely due to the fact that Dee Gordon had to be handed all the awards he won in his “aberrational” 2015 season.  Clearly, some of that 2015 luck stored up in all those accolades rubbed off, as last year’s leader in multi-hit games needed just one game to log his first of 2016.  Ultimately though, the Tigers would be collecting the only thing mattered Tuesday- a season opening victory.  The Marlins dropped their twenty-fourth opener to visiting Detroit 8-7 in extra innings.

Of course, this drama filled game looked like it would be anything but at the outset.

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For five innings, Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen did everything possible to dampen fans spirits, while Tigers counterpart Justin Verlander did everything possible to remind baseball fans his career is far from finished.  Fans were still finding their seats when Ian Kinsler belted a 3-run HR to give Detroit a 4-0 lead in the top of the second, and the fact that that was his second at bat of the night should give you some clue as to the night Chen was having thus far.

It should be noted Chen was actually struck just above the elbow on a sharp comebacker to the mound, and after extensive consultation with trainer and translator, stayed in the game.  On the plus side, he pitched four more innings after getting hit.  Then again, that 3-run blast was post-beaning.

Meanwhile, Verlander was working on a no-hitter through five innings, but would run into trouble in the 6th.  After “winning” a nine pitch battle with Ichiro Suzuki, Gordon and Marcell Ozuna reeled off back to back hits to break both no-no and shutout.  Following a Christian Yelich strikeout, Stanton would celebrate Opening Day as only he can:

Yelich would cut the lead further still with a sac fly in the 8th, scoring Gordon to make it a 5-4 game heading into the 9th.  Bryan Morris would come on in relief and serve up a pair of mammoth home runs to Anthony Gose and Victor Martinez, seemingly putting the game out of reach.

But then Miami churned out a four hit, three-run 9th to tie the game, with Gordon lacing an RBI double down the right field line to knot things up.

Yelich would lead off the 10th with a hit, but that would be as close as Miami would come to the win, as Detroit was able to retire the next five Fish they faced.  Enjoy it Tigers.  Jose is coming.

And now, after that much longer than will usually be the case preamble, let’s get to that Stat Wrap.

• Dee Gordon had the first Marlins hit of 2016- in the 6th inning.
• He’d finish the day 3 for 6, notching his first multi-hit game.*
• Every Marlins regular had either a hit or an RBI in the game.
• That said, only Gordon had more than one hit.
• Giancarlo Stanton made his lone hit count: a 2-run homer.
• Adeiny Hechavarria was the only one to not collect a hit.
• He did however manage two errors- not a Golden Glove day.
• Marlins SP Wei-Yin Chen’s line: 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER
• Miami’s bullpen, save for Bryan Morris’ two HR meltdown inning, was solid- Detroit only had three hits after the 5th.