Tyler Moore changes the Miami Marlins season with one swing

With the Miami Marlins reeling and in desperate need of a win, Tyler Moore delivered the big hit that has eluded the Marlins lately. Is it enough to change the direction of the team?

The answer is absolutely, positively, 100%: maybe. Without much to cheer for recently, though, Miami Marlins fans have every reason to celebrate yesterday’s victory. Moreover, they can look at it as a sign of things to come.

Whether this will act as a catalyst to thrust the Marlins into a hot streak remains to be seen. But Don Mattingly finally pushed the right button in getting Tyler Moore in to bat against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

There are a million ways to look at the Marlins recent slump: 3-10 in May, 4-14 in their last 18 games, losers of their last six series, there is no way to look at the numbers and not cringe. (Unless of course you consider being 5-1 on Sunday’s this season). But there is reason to suspect that the tide is turning for the Fish.

More from Marlin Maniac

• Miami Marlins news: Another target gone
• Why didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?
• Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offer
• Miami Marlins are pursuing Michael Conforto
• Miami Marlins need to spend to win

During their slump, the Marlins managed to notch the occasional win before returning to their losing ways. Here’s why this game might be different: it turned on a single play. In previous games where the Marlins were winners, they led the entire time. They were wire-to-wire wins where everything seemingly clicked. While wins like that gave fans a glimpse of what the team could be, they did little to change to fortunes of the squad in the short-term.

This time was different. The game appeared to be headed towards the same result. Down by a run, and late in the game, the Marlins needed someone to come up in the clutch. Finally, mercifully, Tyler Moore did just that.

On the first pitch he saw from R.A. Dickey, he hit a screamer over the fence to vault the Fish in front.

Fish moving forward

The Miami Marlins needed someone to break the routine of losing while it was happening. That’s what Tyler Moore did with this swing.

The Fish welcome the Houston Astros on Monday, and will have their work cut out for them if they want to take two-of-three. The Astros have the best record in the Major Leagues and are fresh off a victory against the Yankees on Derek Jeter day.

They’ll then face a west coast trip where they’ll draw the Dodgers for three games, and the A’s for two. If they manage to go 6-2 over their next eight games, they’ll have positioned themselves well to finish the month of May at .500.

Next: Miami Marlins: Consistency is key for the rise of Jose Urena

The team is good enough to win consistently, but have regularly come up short. They have momentum now, and will look to ride it for as long as they can.