Missed opportunities halt Marlins' streak at six

[Nate Karzmer]

PITTSBURGH -- Common tropes of the Marlins' scorching two-week stretch have been steady late-game pitching and timely hitting. On a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon in the Steel City, it was the same knacks that flipped for the worst.

Miami's 2-for-13 day with runners in scoring position and struggle to secure a clutch knock in the final two frames proved fatal, as a rare sideways eighth from Anthony Bender ended up being the inevitable nail in the coffin of their season-long six-game win streak. Gregory Soto's tenth save of the year raised the Jolly Roger and sank Miami simultaneously, evening the weekend set with a 3-2 Pirates victory.

"It was intense. It was a good game," said Marlins skipper Clayton McCullough postgame. "We had some chances, got the tying run there to second base in the ninth. It was just a good game, and they came through a little bit more than we did."

Incredibly, Pittsburgh boasted even worse numbers with runners on, sporting an abysmal 1-for-12 with RISP and eleven men left stranded. The decisive run scored against Bender was the product of a two-out rally that featured two singles and a walk, before a 97 mph sinker drifted too far in, beaning Spencer Horwitz on the shin and plating the eventual winning run.

Bender's rocky inning marked both his first loss of the season and first earned runs of June. Most notably, the 31-year-old surrendered multiple hits in an appearance since the end of April in San Francisco.

"I thought Anthony threw the ball well," added McCullough. "Unfortunately, it was a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, but hey, you know what, they did their job, move some forward and push one across...Anthony's been on a really incredible run."

Preluding Bender was Miami's latest bullpen game, started by Lake Bachar.

Both Bachar and John King surrendered a run apiece in their efforts, but scoreless outings from Calvin Faucher, Cade Gibson and Michael Petersen held down the fort, keeping their offense in it.

Miami's aforementioned chances in the eighth and ninth saw runners on first and second and a runner on second, respectively. Three strikeouts and the decision not to pinch-hit Owen Caissie for the slumping Leo Jimenez stifled the former, while a forceout, strikeout and putout of Liam Hicks spelled doom in the latter.

"(We were) weighing the potential of (lefty Evan) Sisk versus Caissie or Leo, who's been in the game. Certainly trust him in that at-bat there against Yohan (Ramirez) in the eighth, so that's what went into that."

It was team RBI leader Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez who cashed in Miami's only two runs earlier in the contest.

Hernandez, who was a Bryan Reynolds robbery away from a sixth homer of the year, continues to shine in parallel with Miami's stretch. The sophomore outfielder's OPS sits north of 1.000, courtesy of seven RBI and base hits in eight of nine.

"The swings he's getting off are incredibly aggressive," said McCullough of Hernandez's success. "Bert hits the ball hard, can handle velocity, and hits a mistake with spin. I think we've just seen a much more confident version of Bert since he's come back. He's cleared his head a little bit, and he's not as tentative as I thought his plate appearances were early in the season; there's more conviction behind it. This is the Bert-the type of swings he's getting off-that I think we saw last year."

If you crave another mid-day, low-scoring affair, look no further than Sunday's series finale.

Max Meyer, still sporting an undefeated 6-0 record, goes toe-to-toe with 2025 National League Cy Young winner and superstar Paul Skenes. First pitch from a likely rainy day in Pittsburgh is slated for 12:15.

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[UKPhil]

The next time Jeremy Tacky is the side line reporter I will be tuned in to the opposing team's broadcast. I know the broadcast team has to be totally compliant with every whim of the team's PR department, but Kyle Sielaf really makes it obvious. 

FoF has good access to the team, and have AJ Ramos on their podcasts. It seems in America, freedom of speech is at it's weakest when dealing with commercial interests. Please don't get sucked in.

It was good to see Faucher not let an inherited runner score, but the desperation is creeping into Connor Norby's at bats. He was swinging at everything. I am concerned that the Marlins will over stress the bullpen and kill the goose that has been laying golden eggs. It was building up Eury and Max to give decent innings along with Sandy that enabled the bullpen to stabilise. If they have to start shuttling arms between Miami and Jacksonville, that stability could be undermined.

Not knowing whether today is the start of the next winning streak or we have just witnessed the end of the Marlins 2026 golden spell, is part of the attraction to being a Marlins fan. Getting Garret back soon, might make a difference

[Hippyboi]

Milbrandt ate up AA and has 2 great AAA starts. Better franchises than us jump 22 or younger pitchers when they are short handed. Worked out last year for Yesavage. 

Time to give Pauley another shot? Still the best glove at 3rd

 

[1993 fan from start]

So what we are blaming the team?   instead of blaming Leo Jiménez hitting in the 8th.  yes Clayton McCullough is the only manger that won't pinch hit in that spot.

Then again anther change . Javier Sanoja hitting in the 9th . witch I  am starting to believe. all he know to do is put bat to ball..  more than once this year getting runner out at second.  and it also a coaches thing also . Tell him try get the ball to first base line or to outfield.   If he can't do it find some in the key moment who will.

AT the end of the day.  It was a game Marlins deserve to lose..  I was surprise they got two changes two win the game.