Wei-Yin Chen Strong in Miami Marlins Loss to DBacks

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 27: Wei-Yin Chen #54 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 27: Wei-Yin Chen #54 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Wei-Yin Chen was solid on Wednesday night in Marlins Park. He lasted six innings for the Miami Marlins, striking out five and surrendering one run.

Starting Pitching

Wei-Yin Chen allowed five hits and walked one batter, putting 60-of-88 pitches in the strike zone and earning a 66 GameScore. That counts as his second best start of the season after his no-decision against the Washington Nationals on May 26th. In that one, he allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.

Robbie Ray was even better, racking up a 74 GameScore and allowing the Miami Marlins only two hits over six innings. He also walked two and struck six batters out, pushing his record to 3-0. Chen dropped to 2-5, while his ERA lowered by over a half run from 6.70 to 6.14.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: Wei-Yin Chen #54 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: Wei-Yin Chen #54 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Game Story

Chen didn’t allow a baserunner until walking Paul Goldschmidt with two outs in the fourth. He then lost the no-hitter one batter later when John Ryan Murphy hit an infield-single behind second base. Miguel Rojas fielded it cleanly, but couldn’t make the throw fast enough to cut Murphy down in time.

In the fifth, Deven Marrero got the Diamondbacks on the board first. With nobody out and two in scoring position, Marrero singled into center field. While Ketel Marte crossed the plate and Chris Owings rounded third, Lewis Brinson collected the ball and fired it to Bryan Holaday, cutting down Owings handily.

In the eighth inning, Daniel Descalso went yard against reliever Adam Conley, doubling Arizona’s lead. It was his ninth moonshot of the season.

89% of the way to shutting out the Marlins, the Diamondbacks sent out Brad Boxberger for a save opportunity in the ninth. Castro greeted him with a line drive homer into the deep left field stands. Castro also homered yesterday, and now has five for the season and 104 in his career. Boxberger walked Brian Anderson next, then struck out pinch-hitter Justin Bour. Brinson grounded out and Derek Dietrich flew out to end the game. Boxberger earned his 21st save of the year.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: Starlin Castro #13 of the Miami Marlins runs the bases after hitting a solo homerun in the ninth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: Starlin Castro #13 of the Miami Marlins runs the bases after hitting a solo homerun in the ninth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Hitting

  • Despite not getting a hit, Anderson drew two walks to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.
  • J.T. Realmuto took his third game in a row off with a sore wrist.
  • Castro accounted for 2/3 of Miami’s hits, with his home run and a sixth inning single.
  • Yadiel Rivera collected the other Miami Marlins hit, with a leadoff third-inning single. Rivera is finally over .200, at .203 for the season after going 1-for-3.
  • Derek Dietrich struck out three times, and the Marlins whiffed a collective 10 times in the game.

Relievers

Brad Ziegler struck a batter out and needed just 11 pitches to get through the seventh. Since his well-documented May troubles which led to his removal as Marlins’ closer, Ziegler has posted a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings and an opposing batting average of .159.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: (Editor’s Note: in camera multiple exposure was used) Brad Ziegler #29 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 27: (Editor’s Note: in camera multiple exposure was used) Brad Ziegler #29 of the Miami Marlins pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Tayron Guerrero walked a batter in the ninth, but was otherwise on point, finishing with a strikeout.

Transactions

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Minor Leagues

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DSL Marlins 5, DSL Rays1 4 (10)

Tomorrow

Trevor Richards (2-4, 4.91) will make his 10th career major league start. The Diamondbacks will send out Zack Greinke (7-5, 3.66).

Next: Who is the best catcher in baseball?

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