Sanoja spoils Luzardo's big day to help Fish snap five-game skid

On Easter Sunday, the Marlins bore witness to the return of a familiar-faced Jesus: Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo.

Acquired in a trade with the Athletics for Starling Marte in 2021, Luzardo made 74 starts over parts of four seasons with Miami, winning 21 games and averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per nine. After an injury-plagued 2024, Miami pulled the trigger on a four-player trade to send the Broward County product to Philadelphia. 

Fortunately for the left-hander's new employer, Luzardo did just as he had done in each of his first four starts since coming over to the City of Brotherly Love, throwing 7 innings of two-run ball (one earned) against his former club. Luzardo's ERA now sits at 2.08.

And yet, it was the Marlins who had the last laugh in their 7-5 extra-innings win, snapping their five-game losing streak in the process to improve to 9-12.

The Marlins trailed 4-2 in the top of the eighth, but had finally gotten into a Phillies bullpen that entered play with a 5.54 ERA. Javier Sanoja—playing left field and using Griffin Conine's glove the day he was played on the 60-day injured list with a dislocated shoulder—saved his first career home run for the perfect moment. The 22-year-old deposited a hanging Orion Kerkering breaking ball into the left field seats for a three-run shot to give the Marlins a 5-4 lead.

"One of the greatest moments of my life," noted Sanoja in Spanish postgame, reflecting on the homer. 

Sanoja would add on in the top of 10th with an RBI single, becoming the fourth-youngest Marlin to drive in five runs in a game. 

Gillispie Guts Through 5

After allowing four of the first five batters he faced to reach, Connor Gillispie fought his way through five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. 

"He took a hit early, but he settled in and kept the game close," said manager Clayton McCullough. 

Miami's 5.74 ERA from their starters is 28th among 30 clubs through Sunday. Gillispie isn't helping the cause with a 6.75 ERA this season.

As they had in the first two games of this series, the Phillies took advantage of a Marlins team that entered the day having allowed a league-leading 34 stolen bases, swiping a pair off Gillispie in a three-run bottom of the first. Baserunners are now a perfect six-for-six on stolen base attempts against the right-hander this season. In the three-game set, Philadelphia went seven-for-seven on steal attempts. 

A(nother) Day to Remember

Making his Major League debut, the recently recalled Cade Gibson, 27, fired 2 ⅓ scoreless frames, picking up a pair of strikeouts and touching 95 mph with his sinker in the process. 

"For making your Major League debut on the road, he showed no fear and a lot of composure," noted McCullough on Gibson, who 22 of his 34 pitches for strikes.

Of Note

- Veteran catcher Rob Brantly exited Sunday's game with reported right shoulder discomfort. 

- Sanoja became the first Marlin to drive in 5 or more runs against the Phillies since Starlin Castro did on August 23, 2019.

- With his first inning, two-run double, Bryce Harper became just the fifth different player to collect 90 extra-base hits against the Marlins, and third with 50 doubles (along with David Wright and Jimmy Rollins).

Looking Ahead

The Marlins will fly south for a brief homestand, hosting a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds that begins on Monday. Max Meyer (1-2, 2.63 ERA) will look to continue his strong start of the season in what will be his second career outing against Cincinnati. In his lone start against them back on August 6 last season, Meyer surrendered six runs over four innings. Nick Lodolo (2-1, 2.31 ERA) will oppose him for the Reds.

First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST.