Unpacking the Miami Marlins Win Over the Houston Astros

The Miami Marlins are the only 4-0 team in baseball.

Savor it. Of course we won’t forget that these games don’t really count, but they really do matter. The Miami Marlins have started off the spring by defeating four teams that were over .500 last season, including three playoff teams and both World Series participants.

In today’s game, we saw a lot more good than bad. The Miami Marlins started off their power assault with back-to-back one-out solo home runs in the second inning, courtesy of Lewis Brinson and Harold Ramirez. They added another run in the fifth inning on a Matt Kemp RBI-single to center, scoring Jon Berti.

The Astros answered, and led for a short time against Marlins reliever Jorge Guzman. Tabbed as a possible future closer, the six-foot-two right hander surrendered all four runs on a grand slam courtesy of Chas McCormick in the sixth inning. Eddy Alvarez tied it in the next half inning by clobbering a 2-2 fastball high in the zone over the left-center field wall.

The score remained knotted at four until the ninth inning, when Jerar Encarnacion smoked a three-run shot to center field, scoring Jazz Chisholm and Gosuke Katoh. Despite surrendering three walks over his two innings of work, reliever Jordan Holloway was credited with the victory for his two hitless innings of work.

Aside from Guzman, the sextet of Jose Urena, Brandon Kintzler, Yimi Garcia, Stephen Tarpley, Ryne Stanek and Holloway tossed 7 2/3 shutout two-hit innings, surrendering only one walk outside of Holloway’s three.

On the hitter’s side of the box score, 20 players got into the action for the Miami Marlins. Aside from the four home runs, the group collected another eight hits, including a double and a triple from Jon Berti. Jazz Chisholm drew two walks in as many plate appearances, and Kemp was two-for-three in the game.

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Also collecting base hits were Garrett Cooper (one-for-three), Brinson (two-for-two), Victor Victor Mesa (one-for-two), and Ryan Lavarnway (one-for-one).

In total, Miami Marlins faithful have to feel somewhat emboldened by the power surge exhibited early this spring. With six now, they find themselves in a four-way tie for the major league lead, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Chicago Cubs, and the Kansas City Royals.

Next up on the docket for the Miami Marlins is another matinee, set for 1:05 PM ET tomorrow afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals. Thanks for reading. Leave a comment, and check back here frequently for all your Marlins news.