A tale of two seasons: Falter two-hits Fish as Pirates complete 2024 sweep

[Nate Karzmer]

For the first time in franchise history, Miami went a full-length season without picking up a win over Pittsburgh. The finale of the 2024 sweep took place almost a year to the day that the Marlins secured a postseason berth on the same field.

There was a party in Pittsburgh 347 days ago as the Miami Marlins secured their first full-season playoff berth in twenty years right in front of a young, up and coming Pirates squad. Many members of the team even stayed behind to watch their opponents soak in the moment or to use the scene for extra motivation moving into 2024.

The Pirates will fall short of reaching the postseason themselves this year, but at least they got back at Miami in head-to-head competition.

After sending the Marlins into an instant spiral during the season-opening series way back in March, Derek Shelton and Co. doubled down in their second meeting back at PNC Park. Wednesday afternoon's 3-1 win ensured a season sweep over Miami, a perfect 7-0 record.

Leading the way was Bailey Falter, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Jonah Bride and Cristian Pache singled, leading to Falter's departure.

As expected, the lefty didn't overpower Miami's lineup, topping out at 92.9 mph on his four-seamer, although he demonstrated some pretty serious swing-and-miss stuff. Falter collected 18 whiffs across 93 pitches (38%), with ten of them coming on his slider. Additionally, the breaking pitch was responsible for three of Falter's five strikeouts.

"Falter was really good." Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said postgame. "Fastball at top of the zone that we couldn't get on top of...just a lot of weak contact and strikeouts. The slider was super effective as well. We just couldn't flush anything...Today was his day and he was just better than us today."

Similar to the first three games, Miami did rally late, putting the tying run on first after Pache's second hit of the day put his team on the board.

 

Kyle Stowers reached on an infield single—his third hit in two games—to load the bases for Xavier Edwards, but Miami's best contact hitter couldn't pass the baton, flying out to, you guessed it, former Marlin Bryan De La Cruz to put a bow on the series. 

 

Of Note

- Wednesday was a bullpen day from the start, as Jonathan Bermúdez got the ball. Bermúdez displayed shaky command and was unable to get in front of hitters consistently which led to him allowing three earned runs on three hits in just two innings of work.

- Following Bermúdez and John McMillon's injury-shortened appearance was Xzavion Curry, who kept Miami in the game as a long reliever. "He saved us", said his manager. "He kept us in the game, I can't say enough about what he did...he pitched."

- McMillon was removed from the game after just two pitches (both fastballs that registered far below his usual velocity). He left the game with tightness in his right forearm area, per Schumaker.

- Declan Cronin continued his eye-catching streak of keeping balls in the yard.

 

Up Next

Miami heads to the nation's capital to face the Nationals, a team they faced just last week in South Florida. Darren McCaughan toes the slab for the Fish, opposing another lefty, rookie Mitchell Parker. Parker was dominant in his last start against Miami in mid-June, tossing six innings of one-run ball. First pitch is slated for 6:45 ET.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

OK, here are my useless observations from yesterday.

1. I remain obviously and completely clueless about Schumaker's pitching strategy. In a bullpen game with a team 40 games under .500, he pulls Bermudez. Let him pitch another inning or two. What the hell difference could it make? Another five-pitcher game (although the McMillon injury must be factored in there).

2. Curry - well done in the Hoeing replacement role.

3.  I saw the roller to Lopez that was scored a base hit. Are you s***ing me? Is this the Major Leagues?

4.  Is there any better microcosm of the effed-up world of MLB salaries when Kiner-Falefa gets a $7.5m salary? Another to go. I don't give a rip about the ridiculous WAR - he's thoroughly a replacement guy. 

5.  Marlins pitchers thoroughly lack cajónes. Stottlemyre deserves a lot of the blame. Take back the inside part of the plate, at least, for crying out loud. Nobody has any fear, and everyone swings out of their shoes on our guys. I suppose it's too late for any of them this season but grow some pairs. 

6.  BAbip. The last time I checked, with help from the ridiculous official scorers around the league, the NL had a .295 BAbip. Walks are 1.000. I realize balls in play may be extra-base hits. Nevertheless, even with all the offensive-minded rule changes, pitching injuries, and the savior of all saviors (the DH), it's better to pitch to contact over walks if you are the Miami Marlins this season. Is there a statistic for the team that leads the league in 3-2 counts, and the number of those that end up as BBs?  Of course, there is. Geez. If Bermudez and all the rest of the makeshift group we're stumbling over the season's final month with aren't capable of actually throwing strikes, so be it. Even if the BAbip is .300, so what? 

Since I am already overtly an *******, I will throw in here that I would like to abstain from a 9/11 regurgitation every year. Perhaps, the usual anniversaries - 30, 40, 50 years, etc. The annual lamentation serves to dilute it, in my opinion. Fly the flags at half-mast, the New York teams can wear the hats. Everyone remembers. But otherwise, the same, tired platitudes at baseball games every year add nothing. Sorry, most sincerely, and no offense to those who feel otherwise.

I feel better now. Out.