With the Miami Marlins trying to go for back-to-back series sweeps, they sent Edward Cabrera to the mound to face a struggling Kansas City Royals team. A nice start from Cabrera and Jesus Sanchez’s three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning helped extend Miami’s winning streak. Final Score: 6-1.
Edward Cabrera gave up a run early in the game off of a Nick Pratto RBI single that drove in Maikel Garcia. Despite that, he looked great, going five innings, striking out four, and only giving up one run on two hits.
In Cabrera’s previous scoreless performance against the Athletics, he relied on his changeup, but tonight went mainly fastball and only threw the changeup 12 times. He went to his curveball more this time around and didn’t use the slider.
Unfortunately, Cabrera was taken out of the game during warmups in the top of the sixth due to a blister. That’s been an off-and-on issue for him since the beginning of his Marlins career.
“Cabby was doing great, but he couldn’t spin the ball anymore because the blister,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker. “Once he told me that, that was it.”
For Miami, the star of the show was Jesus Sanchez, who continues to have success in 2023. On an 0-1 count with two on and two out in the third, Sanchez hit one of the most impressive Marlins home runs of the season, going 445 feet deep to straightaway center. Sanchez’s 109.8 MPH exit velo would be the second-hardest-hit ball of the night.
“He’s worked hard,” said Schumaker. “He’s worked really hard in spring training with the group. Him, (Bryan De La Cruz), everybody up and down the lineup in the roster, they’ve worked really hard to get to a spot where they’re succeeding day in and day out.”
Aside from Sanchez, the Marlins offense wasn’t able to do much off of Royals starter Jordan Lyles. Lyles went seven innings, struck out two, walked one, and gave up five runs off of six hits, though two of those runs were pushed across against reliever Jose Cuas. Lyle suffered his MLB-leading 10th loss, but had arguably one of his best starts of the season.
The Dominican Bash Bros were responsible for the insurance runs off of Cuas. With runners on first and second with no outs, Bryan De La Cruz, doubled to drive in Garrett Hampson and Luis Arráez. Miami extended the lead, 5-1. Not long after, Sanchez smacked an RBI single to drive in De La Cruz.
The ninth inning would be smooth sailing for A.J. Puk who finished the game off for the Marlins to give them win number 35 on the season and their first back-to-back sweeps of the season. Marlins win, 6-1.
This was the first time that Puk pitched since returning from his injury (left elbow nerve irritation).
“I was just real focused,” said Puk following the game. “I’m feeling good again and I was just ready to get back out.”
Game Notes
- Luis Arráez is now batting .403
- Jesus Sanchez is now hitting .306
- The Marlins bullpen combined for a total of six strikeouts tonight while allowing only one hit
- Miami finished the homestand going 7-2
- Edward Cabrera tells the media that he will be making his next scheduled start
Featured image by David Badia/Pelota Cubana USA
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