Diamondbacks Strike Back, Even Series With Miami Marlins

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 26: CEO of the Miami Marlins Derek Jeter watches the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with manager Don Mattingly and President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 26: CEO of the Miami Marlins Derek Jeter watches the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with manager Don Mattingly and President of Baseball Operations Michael Hill at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

With the roof closed at Marlins Park, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Miami Marlins, 5-3 on Tuesday night.

I’m not entirely sure if manager Don Mattingly was counted amongst the 6,159 fans in attendance. He was serving a one-game suspension and watched from the owner’s box with Derek Jeter. Bench coach Tim Wallach served as the acting manager.

Marlins Pitching

Elieser Hernandez took the hill for the Miami Marlins, making his fifth career start and his 12th overall major league appearance. The rule V pick dropped to 0-5 on the season for his troubles, dropping his ERA from 5.12 to 5.05 in the process. He lasted four innings, and allowed two runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Oh, and he struck out a career-high eight, five more than his prior best mark. Hernandez finished with a 54 GameScore, getting 49-of-76 pitches in the strike zone.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 26: Elieser Hernandez #57 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 26: Elieser Hernandez #57 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Reliever Ben Meyer, also a rookie, made his third major league appearance. In four relief innings, he walked three and allowed two hits. Arizona crossed the plate against him three times, two of them earned. He struck out a pair. Nick Wittgren allowed a walk and two hits in a scoreless ninth.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 26: Ben Meyer #51 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the sixth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacksa at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 26: Ben Meyer #51 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the sixth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacksa at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Game Story

The teams matched zeroes for two innings before Jake Lamb doubled home Jon Jay on a double in the third. David Peralta followed him with another double off Hernandez to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Marlins got one back in the fourth, when JT Riddle crossed the plate on a Bryan Holaday groundout. J.T. Realmuto was again out, giving his sore hand an additional day of recuperation.

In the fifth inning, John Ryan Murphy doubled home Lamb and Peralta to take a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Starlin Castro went yard for the fourth time this season.

The Diamondbacks added another run in the seventh on a Murphy sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, Brian Anderson singled, took second on a passed ball, and scored on a Ketel Marte throwing error. Small ball at it’s finest. It wasn’t enough though, and the Marlins comeback efforts died on the vine.

Hitting

  • The Miami Marlins outhit Arizona, 9-to-8.
  • Riddle collected a pair of hits, with a single and a double. Riddle’s double was his fourth of the season, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
  • Derek Dietrich struck out three times, but also collected two singles. The effort raised his batting average slightly, to .303, still a career-best.
  • Anderson extended his on-base streak to 23 games by drawing a walk and clubbing a pair of singles.
  • Justin Bour did not get a hit, but he did walk twice to bring his seasonal total to 54.

Transactions

Outfielder Scott Van Slyke was officially released from service by the New Orleans Baby Cakes. He’s now going to Korea to hit for the Doosan Bears.

JUPITER, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Scott Van Slyke
JUPITER, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Scott Van Slyke /

The Jupiter Hammerheads placed first baseman John Silviano on their seven-day disabled list.

Third baseman Martin Prado made a rehab start for the Sharks. He was 0-for-2 against the St. Lucie Mets.

Outfielder Harrison DiNicola had started with a .304 average over six games with the GCL Marlins at the Rookie level. Early in the day, DiNicola moved up three levels to join the Hammerheads.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Pena was promoted from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to the Cakes.

Minors Update

The GCL Marlins (4-4) defeated the GCL Astros (1-6), 8-7. Milton Smith and Will Bradshaw each collected three singles. Julio Frias (1-1, 4.00) struck out six over five no-hit relief innings for the victory.

In the DSL, the Rays1 (16-5) scored a walkoff, 5-4 win against the Marlins (8-12). Brhayan Campos hit a single and a double to lead the Marlins offense. Luis Palacios struck out four in 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

At Lubrano Park, the visiting Batavia Muckdogs (6-5) defeated the State College Spikes (3-9) by a 4-3 final count. Sean Reynolds led the way with a single and a triple. Demetrius Sims had three singles and two RBI. Alberto Guerrero (2-0, 2.81) earned the win, striking out five and allowing one run over six frames.

With 3,243 in attendance in First National Bank Field, the hosting Greensboro Grasshoppers (38-36) edged the Kannapolis Intimidators (42-31), 8-7. Micah Brown had a four hit game, including a double. Thomas Jones went two-for-four with a two-run homer, and Isael Soto pitched in with a pair of singles. Vincenzo Aiello (1-0, 0.00) earned the win over two hitless innings, striking out two.

More from Marlins News

The Hammerheads (43-31) won a 1-0 contest against the Mets (27-44). Both teams finished with only four hits. Cameron Baranek had the only RBI in the game, and finished with two hits. Jordan Yamamoto (4-0, 1.30) continued to impress, going seven shutout innings and allowing four singles and one walk. After striking out 13 in his last time out, he only collected two this time.

The Jumbo Shrimp defeated the host Mississippi Braves 6-5 at Trustmark Park. Robert Dugger pitched for 6 2/3 innings, whiffing six and allowing four runs. Kolton Mahoney (4-3, 3.33) lasted just 1/3 of an inning, and allowed three hits. Despite that, he was gifted with the W. Brian Miller was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Pablo Lopez was lifted after throwing just 17 pitches, 12 for strikes. The Baby Cakes took him out so that he could start for the Miami Marlins later this week, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Odrisamer Despaigne (2-1, 5.11) earned the win, pitching 5 1/3 two-hit shutout innings. Eric Campbell stayed hot, going three-for-four with a double and an RBI. Lopez was picked from amongst many candidates for the open starting slot with Caleb Smith out.

Tomorrow

Robbie Ray (2-0, 4.88) will take the hill tomorrow opposite Wei-Yin Chen (2-4, 6.70), with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10PM EST.

Next: Chloe's Big Day at the Ballgame

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