Calvin Faucher gives up first home run in two years in loss to Mets

MIAMI—An unstoppable force met an immovable object on Wednesday. 

The unstoppable force won.

Up 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning, Miami Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher was tasked with handling the 8-9-1 hitters of the New York Mets lineup. Last year, he pitched to a 3.19 ERA and handled closing duties after Tanner Scott was traded to the San Diego Padres in July. In 53 ⅔ innings, he allowed zero home runs. 

On Wednesday, Faucher allowed two one-out singles and allowed Juan Soto to reach on a fielder’s choice in which Luis Torrens was thrown out at home.

The only thing standing between Faucher and the end of the inning was Pete Alonso, with two runners on base. 

After falling behind in the count 2-1, Faucher threw a fastball low and in to even the count at 2-2. Here’s how the rest of the battle went:

Foul.

Foul.

Foul.

Foul.

Moonshot over the center field wall.

Tied game. For the first time in almost two years, Calvin Faucher gave up a home run.

“I didn't really want to mix in, get a possible ball, get a full count, and then have to go from there,” Faucher said. “I mean, he was fouling off pitches that were out of zone, so more credit to him there. At the end of the day, it was just a battle he won.”

It was Alonso's 29th career homer against the Fish, which broke a tie with Barry Bonds. Only eight hitters have taken Marlins pitchers deep more often.

The score remained tied until Jesse Winker walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning. The Mets would add onto the lead in the next at-bat when shortstop Xavier Edwards misplayed a Mark Vientos grounder and allowed Alonso to score.

Starting pitching strong again

Marlins starting pitcher Connor Gillispie admitted he was a little amped up in his season debut last Friday. It showed in his line score. He allowed a respectable three earned runs over five innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but allowed four walks in what was also the first start of his major league career.

With a much more potent New York Mets lineup in town, the 27-year-old’s heart rate actually slowed. 

After allowing a single to Soto in the first inning and an RBI double to Alonso in the next at-bat, Gillispie shut down a Mets offense that is expected to be one of the best in the majors this year. It was the only run he allowed in five innings. In contrast to his debut, he allowed zero walks and threw 51 of his 73 pitches for strikes in Wednesday's 6-5 loss.

Gillispie, who made the roster out of camp after injuries to Ryan Weathers and Edward Cabrera, bent but didn’t break whenever the top third of the Mets lineup beat him. While the Mets’ No. 2 and No. 3 hitters in Soto and Alonso went 3-for-4 with two doubles against him, the four through nine hitters went 1-for-12. Leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against the right-hander.

“I've worked my whole life for this,” Gillispie said. “So, I'm not going to let the moment kind of overtake me. I just kind of stay within my way, do what I can do, just try and do my job.”

The Marlins offense manufactured baserunners and took advantage of Mets mistakes to score runs. With Kyle Stowers standing at third base in the third inning, Otto Lopez hit a ground ball to third baseman Mark Vientos. The south Florida native threw home, but the throw sailed high and wide of catcher Hayden Senger, allowing the run to score. 

Up 2-1 in the seventh, Griffin Conine was standing on second base when reliever A.J. Minter fell during his delivery, allowing Conine to advance to third on a balk. Otto Lopez would then drive him home on an infield single. Nick Fortes drove home Lopez with a single two batters later to go up 4-1. 

The Marlins will go to Atlanta on Friday to begin a three-game set against the Braves, who unexpectedly own MLB's worst record through one week of play. Max Meyer is scheduled to make his second start of the season.