X completes the cycle despite Miami dropping finale

In the aftermath of trades that shipped Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. elsewhere, Xavier Edwards has an opportunity to cement his place as a building block of the Miami Marlins' future. He took another step toward doing so during Sunday's getaway contest versus the Milwaukee Brewers. The speedy shortstop legged out a ninth-inning ground ball to his positional counterpart, Willy Adames, to complete the second cycle in franchise history in Miami's 6-2 loss.

Arraez broke the Marlins' 30-year cycle-less streak against Philadelphia on April 11 last season. Edwards now joins him in that ultra-exclusive club.

Acknowledging his lack of raw power, Edwards said postgame that it's the first time he has ever cycled during his baseball career at any level of competition.

"It's pretty awesome," noted Skip Schumaker, who was Arraez's skipper in 2023 and working for the Padres when the club drafted Edwards with the 38th pick in the 2018 draft. "To be a part of one again is something I'll always remember."

How it Happened 

Starting things off in not-so-Edwards fashion, the slap-hitting, Coconut Creek native took the first pitch he saw from Milwaukee's Tobias Myers over the right field wall for his first career home run.

Following a third-inning walk, Edwards, batting in the top of the fifth and now facing reliever Jakob Junis, checked the double off his list. 

Two innings later, the rookie would add another first to his résumé, this time a leadoff triple that would shortly turn into the Marlins' second run of the day in the top of the seventh. 

His final adversary was Milwaukee closer Devin Williams, making his long-awaited season debut. The infield single also secured the first four-hit game of Edwards' major league career.

"It means a lot. I don't think it has set in yet...I had been thinking about that for the past two innings or so," said Edwards, who was seen running sprints in the dugout ahead of that final plate appearance. 

Pitching Hurts Fish

Following a nine-hit outing in his last start against Baltimore on July 23, the wheels seemed to further fall off for Kyle Tyler. 

Though he matched a season-high with five strikeouts, Jake Bauers' eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the first would give Milwaukee a lead they would never relinquish. Failing to cross the five-inning mark for a second consecutive outing, Tyler allowed seven hits and four runs in his four innings of work. 

Things would not get easier for Miami. In the bottom of the fifth, recently recalled Emmanuel Ramirez, would allow a Jackson Chourio home run and Bauers triple on successive pitches. Ramirez would ultimately settle down to pitch three innings. 

Now, 39-67, Miami are currently on pace for 59 wins. 

Of Note

- Ahead of authoring the second cycle in franchise history, Xavier Edwards became the first player in Marlins history to hit a home run, triple, double, and draw a walk in the same game. 

- All seven Miami hits came from the top three spots of the lineup, with everybody else combining to go 0-for-21 against Brewers pitching.

- Recently claimed Forrest Wall made his team debut Sunday, striking out on three pitches in the top of the ninth.

Looking Ahead

While the schedule defines it as such, Monday has the potential to be anything but an "off day" for the Marlins with the looming trade deadline. When Miami resumes play, all eyes will be on Tanner Scott, Josh Bell and which other familiar faces are absent.

The Marlins play visitors to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the latest edition of the Citrus Series. Edward Cabrera (1-3, 7.04 ERA) will look to get the walks under control as he starts the series opener. Jeffrey Springs will return to the big leagues following Tommy John surgery, which cost him most of 2023 and the majority of 2024. 

First pitch from Tropicana Field is slated for 6:50 EST.