TB 11, MIA 2: Another Blowout

It looked promising early on, but in the end, the Marlins did themselves no favors Tuesday evening, dropping the first of a two-game series against their cross-state rivals. Not encouraging to go 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base, while also allowing eleven runs. Here's how it went down.

Sandy Alcantara started the game by allowing a leadoff infield single to Yandy Díaz and getting Brandon Lowe to fly out for the first out. Randy Arozarena then drove a ball towards the gap in LCF, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a leaping catch in front of the wall to rod Randy of extra bases. Jazz then lost control of the ball as he tried to transfer it to his hand, allowing Yandy to tag up from first to second and advance to third base on the E8. Isaac Paredes struck out to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Marlins plated just one run on four hits by way of an RBI single from Chisholm that drove home Luis Arraez.

They then left the bases loaded, a sign of things to come.

The Rays tied the game in the top of the second as Josh Lowe singled, advanced to second on another single, to third on a flyout, and scored on a sac fly. The Marlins stranded Jacob Stallings at second after his leadoff double in the bottom of the second. And Stallings responded by gunning down Randy Arozarena, trying to steal second base to end the top of the third.

The Marlins took the lead back in the bottom of the third as Chisholm slugged his 13th home run of the season. 104.2 MPH, 29° LA, 412 ft, HR in 29/30 ballparks.

The score would remain 2-1 in favor of the Marlins until the top of the sixth inning when everything came crashing down. An in-between fly ball to right field got down amidst a near-collision between Jorge Soler and Luis Arraez for a leadoff double. Isaac Paredes hit a game-tying single to drive home that runner, then Vidal Bruján was hit by a pitch to put two men on for José Siri. After a chat with Mel, Sandy threw a first-pitch slider that Siri crushed off the left field wall for a two-run double. 4-2 Rays. Steven Okert came on to get the final out of the inning and close the book on what went from a really good outing for Sandy, to a really bad one, in just one pitch.

Sandy's final line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HB, 110/80 P/S.

The Rays never looked back and took some Marlins down in the process. After new dad George Soriano gave up two home runs in the top of the seventh to make it an 8-2 ballgame, Jorge Soler took an awkward swing on a 1-1 pitch and had to leave the game with what was later described as, "right hip tightness."

Jorge López pitched a scoreless eighth and then allowed a three-run home run to Isaac Paredes in the top of the ninth to make it 11-2, and Garrett Hampson decided that this game wasn't going to end quickly as he worked a TWELVE-pitch walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Jesús Sánchez put us out of our misery and grounded out to put a bow on the 11-2 loss for the Marlins.

Noah's Notes and What's Next

• Time of game: 3 hours, 12 minutes.
• The Marlins record is now a terrifying 66-66.
• Skip Schumaker called the lack of hits with runners in scoring position "not ideal."
• Jorge Soler said that he should be back on the field as soon as Thursday, if not Wednesday.
• Keep an eye on the waiver wire after the Los Angeles Angels have officially rage-quit the season.
• Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral will have your coverage at the ballpark for the homestand finale.
• Luzardo on the bump.
• 'Til Tmrw!

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images