The Miami Marlins (9-10) have had a streaky start to the season, starting 5-1, then losing eight straight, and most recently winning four out of five, including a weekend sweep of the Seattle Mariners, which they finished with a 3-2 comeback victory Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.
After an overturned replay review led to a Giancarlo Stanton walk-off grand slam Friday night, another close play that was overturned gave Miami the game-tying run in the eighth inning on Sunday, followed by an Adeiny Hechavarria game-winning sacrifice fly. Manager Mike Redmond described the game.
“As you can see, today was a battle, and you can tell it was going to come down to one big play, or one big hit, and fortunately we were able to put those at bats together late and get the win.”
Marlins closer Steve Cishek had an adventurous top of the ninth inning, allowing runners on the corners with one out, but Cishek closed the door on the M’s with back to back strikeouts, converting his 32nd straight save opportunity. Cishek has not blown a save since June 4th of last year.
“We lost a tough one against the Nationals, and had a chance to win that series.” Redmond said. “It’s nice to see us come back and sweep, it’s not easy to sweep in the big leagues.”
The Marlins travel to Atlanta to take on the National League East leading Braves (12-6) tonight. Tom Koehler pitches for the Marlins against Atlanta’s Julio Teheran.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays (9-10) looked to win the four game Thursday-Sunday series with the New York Yankees (11-8) after winning Friday and Saturday’s games by a combined score of 27-6.
In Sunday’s matchup of southpaws, between Cesar Ramos and Vidal Nuno, neither team could manage more than a single run through nine, so they went to extras, and into the 12th inning tied 1-1. There, the bases were loaded for Yankees rookie infielder Dean Anna, and on a 3-2 count with two outs, a C.J. Riefenhauser pitch in the dirt drew a check swing from the rookie Anna, in which he did not commit to, according to the third base umpire, driving in a run and giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. New York would tack on three more runs, and defeat the Rays 5-1 in extra innings, splitting the series.
“I don’t know, Easter Sunday and something happened. I don’t know because we have been swinging the bat so well, and today we were minus,” Rays manager Joe Maddon stated about their one run output on Sunday. “There’s really no solid explanation, I can’t stand here saying the Yankees pitched that great, we just did not have a good offensive day.”
The Rays have Monday off before they welcome in the (9-9) Minnesota Twins for a three game series Tuesday. David Price will take the mound for Tampa Bay against youngster Kyle Gibson for the Twins. Gibson is 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA so far this season, while Price, coming off of a loss to CC Sabathia and the Yankees, is 2-1 with a 4.39 ERA.
For audio on Sunday’s games, click the link below:
Marlins Manager Mike Redmond
Rays Manager Joe Maddon
Yankees Broadcaster Ken Singleton with the call on the Anna walk