Stat Wrap 6/26: Marlins Take Series From Cubs, Win 6-1

Crack open a cold soda.  Take a victory lap.  Enjoy the day.

The Miami Marlins won yesterday, a 6-1 victory.  That’s the bottom line.  But there are so many larger storylines connected to this one, it’s well worth taking advantage of today’s off-day to savor it.  The win came with Jose Fernandez on the mound, and was his tenth of the season- a mark he hasn’t hit since 2013.  The win put the Marlins six games over .500, a mark they haven’t hit since June of 2012.  The Marlins woke up this morning tied for the top Wild Card spot and just three games out of first place, and due to the day’s MLB schedule, will wake up tomorrow either alone at the top of the Wild Card or even closer to the Nats.

Oh, and the team the Fish just took three out of four from, in relatively dominant fashion?  That’d be the Chicago Cubs- the consensus best team in baseball.  Well, unless you’re a Giants fan anyway.

So again, go ahead.  Enjoy the day.  You’ve earned it.

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Jose Fernandez stifled a dangerous Cubs lineup for seven innings, striking out thirteen while surrendering just one run; the runner that scored (the pitcher, no less) was only on the bases to begin with because of one those charming communication lapses where two fielders watch a baseball drop between them.  With his sixth double-digit K game of 2016, chalk up one more club record for the Marlins young ace.

With a Cubs starting pitcher on the mound, the offense was hard to come by until late. Miami wouldn’t take the lead for good until the sixth, and even that run essentially took two successful challenges to count.  But Christian Yelich was able to add on a run in the 7th, and Martin Prado made his lone hit of the game count with a three-run double in the 8th.  Ichiro Suzuki started again in place of Marcell Ozuna, but failed to advance in his quest for 3000 hits, and Giancarlo Stanton can claim another game-winning RBI in his journey back to superstardom.

And now we Stat Wrap:

• Jose Fernandez picked up his 10th win of the season.
• Along with his sixth outing of double-digit Ks; that’s a team record.
• The Marlins are six games over .500 for the first time since June 6th, 2012.
• Derek Dietrich took over the MLB lead (13) in HBPs with two plunkings.
• He also went 2 for 2, once again giving the Marlins five .300 hitting regulars.
• Brian Ellington and David Phelps combined for two scoreless innings of relief.
• Jose Fernandez is on a two-game hitting streak.
• Martin Prado had the biggest hit of the day with a 3-run double in the 8th.
• The win puts the Marlins in 2nd place in the NL East, and tied for the Wild Card lead entering play today.