Stat Wrap 7/26: Marlins Even Series- Must Win Finale?

Tuesday night was a big win for the Marlins, ultimately showing some offensive clout late in the game to muscle their way past the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-0 victory at Marlins Park. The win pulls the team to within four games of the first place Nationals, and secures sole possession of the last NL Wild Card spot. As Marlins radio analyst Glenn Geffner notes, this has been the second best record in franchise history at the 100 game mark. Heady stuff.

But mostly, what matters is he’s just three hits away.

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Alright, maybe Don Mattingly would care more about that first paragraph. Come to think of it, Ichiro Suzuki probably would as well. Tom Koehler was excellent in his second straight quality start, and that’s now six consecutive starts from the Marlins rotation where a starter allowed 2 ER or less. The bullpen contributed three shutout innings of their own, a feat all the more notable because none of the three pitchers used were named Kyle Barraclough, Fernando Rodney, or A.J. Ramos.

Offensively, always nice to see production on a night when multiple starters are resting. Marcell Ozuna, J.T. Realmuto, and “not Justin Bour” duo all sat this one out, and the subs went 4 for 13 in their place. Miguel Rojas and Giancarlo Stanton were the standouts, with four hits and 3 RBIs between them.

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While any win against a division rival is cause for celebration, it seems fair to ask whether the Marlins are in a must win situation tomorrow afternoon in the rubber match. In a week where the front office is deciding just how desperate to get in terms of money taken on and prospects sent away, it would be hard to blame those decision makers if a poor homestand had them feeling a sudden urge to stand pat. After all, starting pitching has not remotely been the reason for the Fish have lost three of their last five games. With a hot Cardinals team coming to town next, every win is precious.

And now we Stat Wrap:

Ichiro Watch: 1 for 5 night, three hits away from 3000.
He also picked up his 9th stolen base of the year, and 507th of his career.
Good enough for 35th all-time in stolen bases.
Tom Koehler‘s line: 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 K, and his 8th win of the season.
That win pushes his season ledger to .500 at 8-8.
That win also pushes him into a tie for 10th all-time in franchise history.
Jeff Mathis has a five-game hitting streak.
Scoreless game until the bottom of the sixth.
Giancarlo Stanton took care of that with an RBI single, which despite a four-run 8th inning, ultimately held up as the game winner.

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