Marlins Win Series Against Mariners After Taking Finale 6-4

Miami, Florida – The Miami Marlins defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-4 today to take two of three games for the series win. Miami won game one in walk-off fashion, but Seattle tied the series after winning the second game 9-0. Miami pieced together a quality win against a tough opponent after finding out another starting pitcher was headed to the IL.

The Marlins looked to rookie Kyle Tyler on the mound, and Miami’s offense gave the right-hander much-needed early run support, especially when you are making your first start in the MLB.

May the Force be with you, always. It's STAR WARS Day @ loanDepot Park as the #Marlins try to bounce back from last night's shutout. Kyle Tyler on the hill, his first ever MLB career start. @aguirrethecap33 and myself are tag teaming today for the series finale.#MarlinsBeisbol pic.twitter.com/JeEXf98V2V

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) June 23, 2024

Responding After a Shutout Against the Mariners

After the Mariners tied this series yesterday, blowing out the Marlins 9-0, Miami did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off the bottom of the first with a double to right field and tagged up to third after Josh Bell flew out left field.

Bryan De La Cruz struck out for the second out of the inning, but Miami rallied with two outs. Jesus Sanchez worked a walk after De La Cruz’s strikeout to give Miami runners on first and third base. Jake Burger punched in Miami’s first run of the ball game with an RBI single to left field, and Nick Gordon was next in the lineup with runners on first and second base. Gordon was getting the rare start in center field, while Jazz was the designated hitter today.

First inning is in the books. Tyler heads back on the mound with a four-run cushion thanks to Nick Gordon.#MarlinsBeisbol || #Marlins pic.twitter.com/yVqqectC4U

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) June 23, 2024

Gordon continued the two-out rally by blasting a three-run home run over the right-field wall. With one swing, Gordon gave Miami an early 4-0 lead. Gordon must like to play on Sundays because five of his seven home runs this season have come on a Sunday.

The Marlins did not stop after the first inning. Jazz gave Miami a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, and Jesus Sanchez connected on his seventh home run of the season, hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the third to extend Miami’s lead to 6-0. That was all Miami scored today, but it was just enough for Kyle Tyler and the Marlins’ bullpen to hold.

Nick Gordon got the start in center field today and talks about his 3-run home run that helped the #Marlins take an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. 5 of Gordon’s 7 home runs have come on Sunday’s this season. @LemonCityLive pic.twitter.com/6wDs1mE1Gv

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) June 23, 2024

Another Pitcher on the IL

Braxton Garrett was scheduled to pitch in today’s game but was scratched due to a strained left forearm. Miam’s pitching rotation has been plagued by nonstop injuries this season. Trevor Rogers is the only starting pitcher from the Opening Day roster who has not been on the IL this season.

Garrett joins starting pitchers Jesus Luzardo, Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera, Max Meyer, Sixto Sanchez, Sandy Alcantara, and Eury Perez on the IL. A.J. Puk started the season in the starting rotation but has been coming out of the bullpen for the last month after that experiment failed.

Kyle Tyler joins a makeshift rotation of Rogers, Yonny Chirinos, Roddery Munoz, and Shaun Anderson. Tyler earned another start for Miami after his performance today. He was tasked to start for the first time in the big leagues and throw to a catcher he had never pitched to.

After the Marlins designated Christian Bethancourt for assignment, the team called up Ali Sanchez from Triple-A Jacksonville.

Following his selection, RHP Kyle Tyler is scheduled to start today’s game.

Tyler has made 3 consecutive scoreless starts with Triple-A Jacksonville dating back to June 5, allowing just 10 hits and 7 walks with 11 strikeouts over 19.0 innings pitched. https://t.co/eOcCAfLWQA

— Marlins Communications (@MarlinsComms) June 23, 2024

Miami’s battery seemed to work well together, as Tyler did not allow the Mariners to score through the first three innings of his outing. Seattle finally got to Tyler in the top of the fourth when Luke Raley lined a two-run home run over the left field wall to put the Mariners on the board.

Tyler limited the damage to just the home run, and Marlins manager Skip Schumaker thought that was enough from the right-hander with a 6-2 lead after 65 pitches.

I think when we had the lead and we knew there was lefties at the top, I think Bliss was starting out the fifth inning, and then it was lefty lefty, said Skip Schumaker. The third time around, that did play a little bit into it but if we didn’t have Puk for multiple innings I don’t think I would have gone to him. But we have the benefit of having three lefties in the bullpen. And when you have the lead you go to your strength and I know the strength is our bullpen. He did enough to put us in a position to win, and our offense did enough to put us in a position to win. Then we go to our strength, and we have multiple innings back there with our leverage guys you go to it and it worked out today.

Tons of drop on that Kyle Tyler curveball 🌈 pic.twitter.com/6bimSxypOe

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) June 23, 2024

Bridging to Tanner

After Tyler’s four innings, the first arm out of Miami’s bullpen was A.J. Puk. It seems like Puk is finding his comfort zone as a mid or set-up reliever. In the series finale against the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, Skip Schumaker said that it was the best Puk looked all season. Against Seattle today, Puk followed up that outing by pitching two scoreless innings of relief to keep Miami’s lead to 6-2.

“By the way, AJ has been lately really, really good, said Skip Schumaker. That’s as good as of a run I’ve seen AJ on last week, two weeks. So he’s really happy where he’s at, and obviously, we’re really happy where he’s at as well.”

Huascar Brazoban was tasked with handling the top of the seventh but had trouble getting to the mound. Before entering the game, one of the umpires checked Brazoban’s glove and asked to replace it. Brazoban ended up using Eury Perez’s and Sandy Alcantara’s gloves, and maybe the delay in the game affected him.

Looks like Huascar Brazoban is being inspected for foreign substances before the start of the seventh inning. It appears they're making him get another glove. #MarlinsBeisbol

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) June 23, 2024

Brazoban recorded the first two outs in the inning but allowed two runners to reach base on a walk and base hit. One of those runners scored on the second out of the inning thanks to Ryan Bliss‘ RBI groundout to make the score 6-3. After that, Brazoban was pulled from the game, and Andrew Nardi was the next reliever out of Miami’s bullpen.

On Nardi’s first pitch, J.P. Crawford lined a single up the middle to bring in the second runner that Brazoban let reach base. Miami’s lead shrunk to 6-4, but Nardi struck out Dylan Moore to end the inning and Seattle’s threat.

JP CRAWFORD 😤 pic.twitter.com/5wER7baFa9

— Seattle Mariners ON Tap (@MarinersONTap) June 23, 2024

Calvin Faucher was used today in a set-up role and pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the eighth recording two strikeouts. Besides Brazoban’s shaky inning, the Marlins bullpen did their job to hold on to the lead and have the ninth inning ready for Tanner Scott.

Back-to-Back Series Win

On cue, Scott came in for the top of the ninth to close the game. He got into trouble early on, giving up a single to Mitch Garver to lead off the inning and then walked Cal Raleigh. With runners on first and second base, Bliss flew out to center field for the first out, and then Scott struck out Crawford for the second out.

Dylan Moore followed up the strikeout with a single to load the bases, and Seattle’s young superstar, Julio Rodriguez, was up to bat with a chance to tie or take the lead. With the game on the line, Rodrguez hit a line drive that looked like it was going to the right-center field gap, but Marlins second baseman Otto Lopez leaped in the air to his left and made a diving catch for the final out to seal the win for Miami.

“Never tell me the odds – Han Solo”
-Otto Lopez pic.twitter.com/eRxJjwNVjw

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 23, 2024

The Marlins end the homestand with a 4-2 record with three walk-off wins. However, the Fish won’t have much time to celebrate as they hit the road and are back in action tomorrow against the Kansas City Royals for a three-game series. Miami will not have a rest day next week as they fly to Philadelphia immediately after their series against the Royals for four games against the Phillies. Roddery Muñoz is penciled in as Miami’s starter tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m.