After dropping three out of four against the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, the Marlins went over to the Lone Star State of Texas to take on the American League West-leading Texas Rangers who have the second-best record in the AL. Despite a competitive start from Jesús Luzardo, Adolis García hit two home runs and the Rangers offense took control of the game. Final: 6-2, Rangers.
Luzardo struck out eight, walked two and gave up four runs off six hits. He also surrendered three home runs (a season worst).
The first run that Luzardo gave up was a solo home run to the highest-paid Rangers hitter, Corey Seager. On a 1-0 count, Luzardo went with a rare left-on-left changeup and Seager took him 429 feet deep to tie the game at one apiece.
The second Texas run came on a Leody Taveras RBI double to drive in catcher Mitch Garver, who had a base hit to lead off the bottom of the second inning. That tied the game at two apiece.
The Rangers’ third and fourth runs were thanks to Cuban slugger Adolis Garcia. The first home run was a rather close call as García just cleared the right field fence next to the foul pole. It would’ve only been a homer in five out of 30 major league ballparks. The second one was a much more convincing one as it left the bat at 110.8 MPH and went 433 feet into the air (home run distance in all 30 ballparks). Both homers came against Luzardo’s fastball.
That is when Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker decided to take Luzardo out of the game for Jorge López. López was able to get out of the sixth inning, but allowed two more runs to the Rangers in the seventh. After Taveras smacked a base hit to get a man on base, Marcus Semien followed with an RBI double to drive in Taveras to extend the Rangers lead, 5-2. Core Seager grounded out, which moved Semien to third base and allowed All-Star third baseman Josh Jung to hit a sac fly, driving in Semien.
López was taken out of the game after allowing a triple to Adolis García. A.J. Puk entered the game and struck out Nathaniel Lowe swinging to end the inning, but the damage was done.
On the other end, starter Jordan Montgomery, who was making his Rangers debut, got into some trouble early on. Miami’s first run came thanks to newly acquired Josh Bell, who smacked an RBI double to drive in Luis Arráez, who had a base hit to lead off the game. The second Marlins run of the game was thanks to Jon Berti. Miami’s hottest hitter as of late, Berti hit a solo home run, his first one since April.
Beginning in the third inning, the Marlins offense fell into a dry spell. Montgomery was able to retire 11 straight until Avisaíl García got a base hit to break that streak. Montgomery finished the night striking out six, walking one and allowing two runs on six hits. Montgomery mixed his pitches well and picked up five of his 10 whiffs with his cutter.
Miami was unable to tack on anymore runs throughout the reminder of the ballgame and ended up dropping game one of the three-game set.
Saturday’s starter will be right-hander George Soriano, who has yet to pitch this week. This season, Soriano has given the Marlins length in the bullpen and quality innings as well (1.98 ERA), but he hasn’t been used as a starter until now.
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