Stat Wrap 7/31: Marlins Win, Have Chance For Crucial Split

Offense wise, that was some fast script flipping.  Pitching wise….well, we’ll get to that.

The Miami Marlins clubbed the Cardinals into submission 11-0 Saturday night at Marlins Park, setting up a chance for a crucial series split. This was must-win, playoff baseball for Miami, whereas St. Louis had a Sunday safety net.  The season series stands at 3-3 with one to play, the winner being able to claim tie-breaking privileges if the clubs should finish the season in the same position they’re in now: tied for a wild card spot.

Already possessing a tie breaker over the Dodgers, and needing just a single win to say the same about Pittsburgh, a win tomorrow would be a huge step towards solidifying those playoff chances.

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The shorter term big story though is Colin Rea, and his exit in the fourth inning with what has been called an elbow injury.  That’d be the same “elbow injury” that caused Rea to miss a month last season, and projects to cause fellow Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen to miss a month this year.  Or it could just be sore, and he’ll be fine.  Or he could be done for the year and some of next.

The moral of the story is that when you hear elbow, you should start paying attention again to what happens on the trade front; if Miami’s front office feels this is serious, they might just be motivated to try to land another arm before the Deadline.

And now we Stat Wrap:

• Ichiro Watch: Two at-bats, zero hits.  Still stuck at 2,998 on the career.
• Miami’s bullpen racked up 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
• Of course, that’s because starter Colin Rea left with an elbow injury.
• Jeff Mathis has a six-game hitting streak after a 3 for 4, 2 RBI game.
• Dee Gordon stole a base! Look out J.T. and Ichiro.
• After an off day, Christian Yelich went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.
• Marcell Ozuna hit his 19th HR of the year.
• The 11-0 run differential was Miami’s largest of the season.
• The win moves the Marlins back into a tie with St. Louis for the last Wild Card spot.