Marlins Notebook: Huge Ninth-Inning Rally, Junk, Edwards Takeaways
The Marlins pulled off a six-run ninth-inning rally to top the Nationals on Sunday. Here are more takeaways from inside the clubhouse.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Miami Marlins were on the verge of losing the first three games of a four-game set with the Washington Nationals on Sunday. They trailed 2-0 entering the top of the ninth inning, but a huge six-run rally, which may be better described as a complete meltdown by the Nats’ bullpen, gave Miami the 6-2 victory.
For the first eight innings of the game, Washington’s Andrew Alvarez and Clayton Beeter were dominating on the mound. Alvarez lasted six innings and struck out six, allowing just two hits and walking three.
“He shoved it up our butts pretty good for most of the game,” Marlins’ manager Clayton McCullough said of Alvarez. “We had a really difficult time with his breaking ball; our at-bat quality wasn’t great early on.”
When the ninth inning rolled around, a depleted Nationals bullpen had to turn to Max Kranick to attempt to complete the shutout and earn the save. After allowing a bunt single to Esteury Ruiz to lead off the final frame, Kranick walked two batters, recorded one out and was removed with the bases loaded.
Washington then turned to left-hander Tom Cosgrove, who promptly plunked Jakob Marsee and allowed Miami to score its first run of the game. Joe Mack then hit a huge sacrifice fly that would have tied the game, but a throwing error by Washington’s center fielder Andrew Pinckney bounced into the Marlins’ dugout, allowing a third run to score in the inning.
Cosgrove then walked Heriberto Hernandez, putting runners on the corners with one out in a 3-2 game. With the lead in hand, Miami called a Little League play, a double steal, attempting to get Hernandez thrown out at second to allow Marsee to score from third.
Hernandez broke from first while Cosgrove was set, causing Cosgrove to step off and turn to second. Marsee took off for home, but Cosgrove realized what was happening too late and the runner scored. Perhaps the most comedic part of the play was that Cosgrove never even threw to second to get Hernandez either, so the Marlins successfully ran a double steal in plain sight without a pitch having even been delivered.
“That’s something that [third base coach] Blake [Lalli] and [first base coach Craig] Driver have been talking about for a while,” McCullough said of the double steal play. “We’ve talked about this, just the combination of runners and the particular pitcher on the mound. Blake felt good about the combination there, and I just said, ‘You know what, if you feel good about it, let’s do it.'”
“The guys executed it really well…it definitely gave us a little bit of juice and [was] a big tack-on run.”
The batter at the time was Otto Lopez, who, three pitches after the double steal, blasted a 400-foot homer to give the Marlins some additional cushion.
“Overall, the type of season he’s had has been phenomenal,” said McCullough. “He certainly has struggled more recently, but a big hit for him.”
Following the six-run top of the ninth, Michael Petersen came out of the bullpen to secure the four-run victory for Miami. He capped off what was an excellent showing by the Marlins’ bullpen.
“The guys on the mound gave us a chance to hang in there, and you’re just one rally away from changing the game,” McCullough said. “Testament to the group for just hanging in there and continuing to go until the last out was made.”
Recapping Janson Junk‘s Start
Junk has been a solid performer in the Marlins’ rotation this year, entering today’s game with a 4.21 ERA over 98.1 innings. He doesn’t have a high strikeout rate or a big fastball, instead leveraging his six-pitch mix to induce ground balls.
In today’s outing, Junk allowed one run on four hits, walking two and striking out two over 4.2 innings. He was removed from the game before he could face the Nationals’ lineup for a third time.
“He’s got a really wide arsenal; he’ll use any pitch in any count. He’s able to keep hitters off balance,” McCullough stated. “His ball-to-strike ratio was very good, and early in the game, especially with some of their lefties, he was able to get his spin down below the zone and either get some swing and miss or some soft contact.”
The only run allowed by Junk came on an RBI double by Nasim Nunez in the fifth, prompting the Marlins’ skipper to remove his starter. Calvin Faucher came on to relieve him, striking out CJ Abrams to end the inning and the scoring threat.
Though he didn’t make it particularly deep into the game, Junk gave the Marlins a chance to come back and win, which was exactly what they were able to do.
Injury Update for Xavier Edwards
Edwards started Sunday’s contest at second base but was removed in the fifth inning due to left thumb discomfort.
The injury occurred when Nationals’ third baseman Jorbit Vivas attempted to steal second base, and his foot appeared to bend Edwards’ glove backward, putting his thumb in an uncomfortable position. Edwards immediately jumped up, writhing in pain as the ball rolled into center field, and Vivas advanced to third.
“It was the timing of where the throw was, going up the line, slide going in there…his thumb just got pinned back a little,” McCullough recalled. “I think it was just the unfortunate nature of ball, glove, and slide all meeting together.”
After a brief meeting with the trainer, Edwards was removed from the game. The injury was initially reported as left thumb and elbow discomfort, but McCullough told the media postgame that Edwards’ thumb was the concern.
“Right now, we’re thinking it’s a left thumb sprain,” McCullough said. “He’ll go tomorrow for some imaging, and we won’t really know his severity and timeline until we get more information.”
Edwards has been enjoying a strong season, batting .282 with 20 stolen bases as the Marlins’ everyday second baseman. His absence would be a big one for a Miami squad that still has postseason aspirations.
It would appear unlikely that Edwards is going to play in tomorrow’s series finale in D.C., but the best-case scenario would be Edwards suiting up in Kansas City this coming week as Miami (69-68) tries to stay in the mix.
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Daniel Rotter follows the game of baseball with passion. He was the youngest participant in the inaugural year of The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational, at 17…