Despaign-Yay!: Miami Marlins make most of surprise performance

The Miami Marlins keep on finding ways to win. On Saturday, they made the most of a surprising performance from Odrisamer Despaigne.

Getting a surprising boost in a spot start situation, the Miami Marlins did well to put it to use. Winning on a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning off the bat of Miguel Rojas, Miami put themselves in position for a sweep on Sunday.

It was a surprisingly effective performance from Odrisamer Despaigne. The Cuban righty might as well have had a reflective orange vest for most of the year; there has been a lot of traffic on the base paths when he was on the mound. On Saturday, he brought barricades.

What it lacked in flash, it made up for in importance. The Marlins did well not to waste it.

Over 6.1 innings, Despaigne allowed only three hits and walked two batters. He surrendered one earned run on a play that could very well have gone as a throwing error on catcher JT Realmuto. With runners on first and third, a double steal netted an errant throw to centerfield.

Because the runner from third was running home before the ball got past the infield, it went as an earned run, rather than a throwing error.

That was it. Throwing 97 pitches, Despaigne’s game score of 61 was the best he’s logged in a start since July 26th of 2015. Funnily enough, it was against the Miami Marlins while he was pitching for the San Diego Padres.

Ain’t it funny how things work out like that in baseball?

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To call the win a surprise would be an understatement. In short, Despaigne hasn’t pitched well since his 2014 rookie season with the Padres. He struggled in 2015, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2016, and selected off waivers by the Marlins later that year.

His performance becomes another link the chain of a surprising Miami Marlins playoff run.

Is another start in the cards?

It’s possible that Despaigne would get another start if the Marlins were forced into a similar situation. A doubleheader against the Phillies earlier in the week made a spot starter necessary for the hamstrung rotation.

Despaigne performed well when asked, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Much like the string of successful Vance Worley starts earlier this month, things have a way of leveling off. Despaigne isn’t a longterm answer, and Miami will need to figure something else out.

The answer everyone wants is Dillon Peters.

Next: What the Miami Marlins must do to contend this year

It was another impressive win for a resurgent Miami Marlins team. They didn’t pick up any ground thanks to victories by every team ahead of them in the wildcard race, but they kept pace with the pack. They’ll go for a series sweep of the Padres on Sunday.

In a Dan Straily matinee, first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm from Marlins Park.

The Miami Marlins keep on finding ways to win. On Saturday, they made the most of a surprising performance from Odrisamer Despaigne.

More from Marlin Maniac

Is another start in the cards?

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