Offseason Activities: The 10 Best Marlins Games of 2019

St. Louis Cardinals (33-32) at Miami Marlins (23-42)

Jordan Yamamoto joined the Marlins system along with Lewis Brinson, Isan Diaz, and Monte Harrison in the deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for Christian Yelich. Considered a “throw in” at the time, Yamamoto may yet to be the crown jewel of the transaction in the end.

Yamamoto had gone 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA across three levels of the Marlins minor league system, between the GCL Marlins, the Jupiter Hammerheads, and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2018. He gave up 43 hits in 68 2/3 innings, striking out 85 while issuing only 14 walks for a 0.830 WHIP.

Called up from the Jumbo Shrimp for the start against the Cardinals for his major league debut on June 12th, Yamamoto performed even better than advertised. He pitched seven innings, getting 61-of-95 offerings over the plate and surrendering three hits and two walks while striking out five.

Nick Anderson followed with a perfect eighth, and Tayron Guerrero walked one in an otherwise perfect ninth.

Offensively, the Marlins were led by a three-for-five games from Garrett Cooper, including a second-inning grand slam for his sixth homer of the season. Curtis Granderson launched his seventh, a three-run shot in the eighth. Brian Anderson and Miguel Rojas each collected a pair of hits in the eventual 9-0 victory for the Marlins.