Miami, Florida – Just when Miami looked on the verge of winning Anthony Bass blows it in the ninth as the Marlins suffer a heartbreaking 6-4 loss to the Rays. Charged with protecting a two-run lead, Bass was unable to close out Tampa Bay. Joey Wendle got a hold of his splitter, slamming a three-run blast to retake the lead.
Pablo López got the start, pitching five scoreless innings giving up two hits, striking out four. He would get a no-decision.
Momentum Shifter
It's almost time for some #Marlins baseball! Pablo Lopez squares off against Ryan Yarbrough in Game 2 of the Citrus Series #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/E2GT1Fa0sm
— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) April 2, 2021
It was a slow start for the offense but the bats caught fire after the seventh-inning stretch.
Miami didn’t get their first hit of the evening until the fourth. Miguel Rojas lined a single towards the pitcher Ryan Yarbrough to get things started. The play was challenged afterward but he was indeed safe. Starling Marte singled as well putting two runners on with nobody out. The home team couldn’t jump on the opportunity.
Jesus Aguilar popped out and Garrett Cooper lined into an inning-ending double play.
The Marlins threatened again in the sixth. Marte doubled and Aguilar drew a walk to put a runner in scoring position. Unfortunately for them, Cooper couldn’t do much with his second opportunity flying out to rightfield.
The reigning AL East champs, meanwhile, found ways to score with two longballs. Austin Meadows went deep at the top of the sixth with another dinger from the Rays during the seventh courtesy of Manuel Margot.
In the home half of the inning, the Fish’s fortunes changed.
After Brian Anderson and Adam Duvall both struck out, Jazz Chisholm kept the inning alive with an impressive triple. Pinch hitter Corey Dickerson broke through with an RBI double for the Marlins’ first run of the season. Then with two runners in scoring position, Miggy Ro went clutch driving in two runs with a base hit advancing over to second on the play.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MIAMI MARLINS HAVE SCORED THREE RUNS AND NOW HAVE THE LEAD. #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/Y7ILtIV5aV
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 3, 2021
And just like that Miami was winning. The Fish tacked on an insurance run in the eighth. Anderson singled on a sharp ground ball to second baseman Brandon Lowe who proceeded to airmail it. Magneuris Sierra scored on the throwing error. It was not enough.
Collapse
Just when it appeared the Marlins were going to win the Rays rallied with three runs in the ninth. Bass couldn’t keep Wendle inside the park. The shortstop lifted the ball into the stands for his first homer of the year.
The Rays scratched another run with a sacrifice fly from Francisco Mejia, scoring Margot. Unable to respond in the ninth, Miami ceded the first round of the Citrus Series to their in-state rivals. With the loss, they fall to 0-2.
New year, same fight in this team pic.twitter.com/Pa94MqCPJW
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 3, 2021
Final Thoughts
It felt great to be back at the ballpark. It’s been over a year since I personally saw a Marlins game and it was quite the homecoming. The team managed to get its first run and first lead but were unable to get their first win of the 2021 campaign. Bass choking at the end certainly leaves a bitter taste to many but the season is still young.
It’s a hard loss to shake off but coming back to professional baseball has been a gift especially with everything that has occurred in the last year.
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