Marlins win finale in literal game of inches

MIAMI, FL—Skip Schumaker's first notable remark following Sunday's 7-6 thriller of a win over the Padres says all you need to know about the Miami Marlins over the last four days: "If I'm gassed, I can't imagine what those guys feel."

After losing not one, not two, but three consecutive games in extra innings, the Marlins temporarily found themselves faced with the prospect of a fourth consecutive day of free baseball.

Andrew Nardi was clinging to a 7-6 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth. Already the author of a hat trick at the plate with three strikeouts, Ha-Seong Kim squared up Nardi's fastball and hit a deep fly ball to left field. It deflected off the wall and then Kyle Stowers' glove, ultimately rolling over the wall. And just like that, the Marlins had blown another lead late.

Or did they?

Upon umpire review, the ruling was changed to a ground-rule double. Even without touching the ground, because the ball had impacted the wall before Stowers, it was to be treated as a ball in play.

One batter later, in relief of Nardi, George Soriano locked down the victory over the Padres. It was redemption on a personal level as well considering Soriano was on the mound for the blown save in Friday's 9-8 loss.

Marlins Bats Cease Dylan

Entering Sunday amid a five-start stretch where he has allowed just six hits and one run—including a no-hitter on July 25—Dylan Cease had been in a groove unlike any other in recent vintage. 

However, Miami would figure Cease out early, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of RBI singles from Jonah Bride and Otto Lopez. But the first was merely an appetizer for the entree that awaited in the bottom of the second. 

Scoring their first run of the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Jake Burger continued a torrid run of hitting (1.036 OPS since July 2) when he drilled a Cease fastball into the center field ivy. It was his 22nd home run of the season and fifth in his last five games. Going 3-for-4 in the win, Burger now has a 1.284 OPS in the month of August. 

The Padres ace would settle in enough to make it through five innings, with only two of his five runs allowed being earned. 

Meyer Strong in Victory

In his fourth start since being recalled from Triple-A, Max Meyer resembled the pitcher who allowed just four runs over his first three starts to begin the season...at least during his initial trip through San Diego's order.

Meyer allowed 4 runs over a career-best 6 ⅓ innings pitched en route to his third win of the season. The former first-round pick started the afternoon retiring the entire Padres lineup in order before allowing a Luis Arraez single to begin the fourth. Meyer would surrender runs in fifth and sixth before a David Peralta double would put the lid on a four-run outing for the Marlins right-hander. 

"He on the attack...he threw fastballs down and away...Overall, just a very good outing when we needed length," noted Schumaker.

Dating back to Thursday, the Marlins bullpen had thrown 13 ⅔ innings in the three games prior to Meyer's start on Sunday. 

Sánchez provides insurance

With Miami leading 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Jesús Sánchez ultimately proved the difference with his two-run home run off San Diego's Yuki Matsui, tying a season-high with fourteen in the process. 

The Padres would make it a one-run affair once again, though. Half an inning later, and nearly ten years to the day of his only home run at loanDepot park (then Marlins Park) on August 12, 2014, Donovan Solano took Andrew Nardi over the left field wall for a two-run blast of his own.

Of Note

- Some minor controversy ensued following an inning-ending double play that saw Jake Cronenworth take an aggressive slide into the second baseman Lopez, resulting in a clearing of the benches albeit a brief, uneventful one. 

- 'Ole stomping grounds: Luis Arraez picked up his fifteenth career three-hit game at loanDepot park Sunday, including a single to break up Meyer's no-hitter in the top of the fourth. 

Looking Ahead

When Miami resumes play Tuesday, they will do so when commencing their final series of the season in Philadelphia, where they take on the division-leading Phillies. Taijuan Walker (3-3, 5.60 ERA), the owner of a 3.10 ERA in 12 career starts against the Marlins, starts the opener for the Phillies.  

First pitch from Citizen's Bank Park is slated for 6:40 EST.