Puello, Gallen Lead Miami Marlins to Rubber Game Win in Windy City

The Miami Marlins took the final game of their three-game series against the White Sox thanks to heroics on the hill, at the plate, and in the field.

Zac Gallen led the Miami Marlins on Wednesday with the best start of his still nascent career. He put 68-of-95 over the plate on his way to a career-high nine strikeouts. He completed his start with a GameScore of 81, walking one, allowing a single, a double, and no runs. He did hit two batters on his way to his first major league victory. Gallen now has a 2.76 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings over his first half-dozen starts.

Nick Anderson allowed a hit but no runs in the eighth inning, getting nine-of-15 offerings between the wickets for White Sox hitters. Sergio Romo allowed a pair of hits and plated 16-of-24 pitches, and completed the combined shutout for his 17th save in 18 chances in 2019.

Gallen was matched out-for-out through seven innings by Chicago starter Reynaldo Lopez. Each pitcher allowed just two hits over the first seven innings. Cesar Puello finally touched the starter in the eighth inning with a two-run homer. Puello drove it deep over the fence in left field, and took a long moment to admire his handiwork before starting his trot around the bases, and why not? After all, it was his first homer since joining the Miami Marlins last month from the Anaheim Angels. He had previously hit three with the Angels.

Puello also made two nice running catches in the bottom of the eighth after going deep. He made a diving catch in short-center for the first out of the inning off Adam Engel. With a runner on first, he robbed Jose Abreu of an extra-base hit at the wall with a nice jumping catch to end the inning. It didn’t quite have the distance to clear the fence, but it was surely a double at least if not for Puello’s save.

Four other Miami Marlins position players collected hits in the game, all singles. Miguel Rojas, Brian Anderson, Starlin Castro, and Jorge Alfaro each hit safely. Neil Walker had a particularly egregious time, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the game.

Coming into their series with the South Side Chicagoans, the Miami Marlins had a 6-9 all-time record against the club, a .400 winning percentage that ranked as their second-worst against any team. The only team they have had less success against, historically, was the Boston Red Sox (12-26, a .316 winning percentage).

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With a 2-1 series win, the Marlins are now 8-10 for a .444 winning percentage, their 22nd-best mark against another team. Incidentally, the Miami Marlins only have .500 or better records against eight teams, including winning records against six of them. Only one of those clubs reside with the Marlins in the National League East, the Washington Nationals. The Marlins have a 222-221 all-time record in that series.

The Miami Marlins will take tomorrow off before kicking off a home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at 7:10 EDT.

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