Miami Marlins Recap: Yelich, Marlins Walk Off To First Win

By Michael Sonbeek |

We’re four games into this young Marlins season and we’ve already seen ups and mostly downs for this team. The season started off with the Marlins getting swept courtesy of the Atlanta Braves. After an off day Thursday, the Marlins began the “Citrus Series” with their upstate rives, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Dan Haren, who the Marlins acquired from the Dodgers in part of the Dee Gordon trade, made his debut for the Marlins. Haren gave the Marlins a very good start going 6 innings, racking up 2 strikeouts, while giving up 4 hits and 1 run. This start is probably the best the Marlins has got out of their pitchers this year.

All in all though the Marlins have quality starts out of all their starters except for Mat Latos, who was lit up for seven runs in 2/3 of an inning.

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The Marlins offense was quiet so far this season, scoring just three runs in the first three games. That changed Friday night, as the Marlins offense exploded for 9 runs in the first four innings. The first two run scoring plays of the game came from the bat of Michael Morse when he hit an RBI single in the first and the he grounded into a double play that scored Dee Gordon in the third.

The Rays would get a run back when Kevin Kiermaier belted a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning. The Marlins had a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 4th inning.

In the bottom of the fourth the Marlins scored rallied for six runs. The inning started with a Marcell Ozuna single, followed by a walk by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Adeiny Hechavarria drove Ozuna home in on an RBI double, which also happened to be his first hit of the season.

After a Haren ground out and a Dee Gordon walk, Christian Yelich lined a 2-run single, the Marlins first hit in 2015 with the bases loaded. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a double, scoring 2 more runs. The inning was capped off by a Michael Morse single, which scored Giancarlo.

The Marlins had an 8-1 lead after 4. Game over, right?

Dan Haren got pulled after 6 innings. Marlins manager Mike Redmond replaced Haren with newly acquired pitcher David Phelps.

In an 8-1 game, Redmond put Phelps to get him some work since he hasn’t pitched since spring training. His Marlins debut became a total nightmare when he walked two batters and allowed two hits, en-route to and giving up four runs. Phelps was pulled after he walked Logan Forsythe with the bases loaded to make it 8-2.

Redmond pulled Phelps in favor of Sam Dyson who struck out the first man he faced, but walked the next two hitters he faced, walking in 2 more runs. Marlins lead was now down to 8-5.

Dyson was quickly pulled in favor of A.J. Ramos, who quickly gave up a double David DeJesus to clear the bases and then an Asdrubal Cabrera single tied the game at 8 a piece.

The Rays had all the momentum on their side when they came back from the 8-1 deficit, but when it was their turn to the pitch in the bottom of the 8th, they blew the lead when Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI single to give the Marlins a 9-8 lead.

Steve Cishek came into the game in the bottom of the 9th looking to get the save. Cishek pitched in the second game of the season and got lit up for four runs. He struggled yet again Friday, giving up two hits that led to him blowing the save.

In the bottom of the 10th, Dee Gordon hit a double and got himself in scoring position for Christian Yelich. Yelich then ripped a walk off single to give the Marlins their first win.

To commemorate the Marlins first walk-off win, Dee Gordon, in a pretty dangerous post game act, dunked over Christian Yelich.

The Marlins and Rays will square off tomorrow at 4:10. The probable starters are Jarred Cosart and Chris Archer.

Next: Marlins Farm Report

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