Brax shows flashes in return, Rivera walks it off

Mother's Day at loanDepot park would mark the season debut for Braxton Garrett. Though, without context, his final line—5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K—would suggest an unremarkable return to action, Garrett's effort proved a boon for the Marlins in their eventual 7-6, walk-off victory over the Phillies. With the win, Miami improved to 11-31 on the season, snapping a six-game skid in the process.

Facing Nick Castellanos and having already allowed the Phillies' No. 2 and No. 3 hitters to reach in the top of the first, Garrett threw a hanging curveball—a pitch the league hit .515 on in 2023—perfectly catered to Castellanos' long swing, as the longtime right fielder drilled a three-run home run into AutoNation Alley.  

"I would rather have not thrown it," said Garrett referencing the curveball thrown to Castellanos. "If I throw it with more aggression, he probably swings over it." 

Getting out to an early 3-0 lead is nice, but doing so when your starting pitcher, Zack Wheeler, has historically held the Marlins in check—his 2.48 ERA being the lowest of any pitcher with a minimum of 120 innings pitched against Miami—only makes that early cushion evermore sweeter. Miami would have none of it, though, as Jesús Sánchez's second-inning, RBI double would prove a sign of things to come against the Phillies ace. 

Soon resembling the Braxton Garrett who posted a 120 ERA+ between 2022 and 2023, the former first-round pick would retire each of the next eight hitters following the Bryson Stott single that proceeded the Castellanos homer. 

In the bottom of the third and with Josh Bell at the plate, himself a terrific performer against Wheeler (1.009 OPS in 33 PA), the Marlins would get a three-run blast of their own when Bell went dead-center for his fifth home run of the season.

As we would soon be reminded, though, nothing comes easy for the 2024 Marlins.

Entering the top of the sixth with the prospect of a quality start still in reach, Garrett would exit after allowing a Bryce Harper single and four-pitch walk to the aforementioned Stott, leaving Andrew Nardi responsible to keep the lead at 3. Unfortunately, the crux of Nardi in 2024 has been his inability to strand runners, as evidenced by 11 of the 15 inherited runners scoring to this point. In a span of just 8 pitches, Nardi would up that total to 13 as an Edmundo Sosa triple and Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly evened the score at 6-6.

"I know what the line was, but he (Garrett) pitched a lot better than it suggested," noted Skip Schumaker. 

Miami and Philadelphia's bullpen would trade zeroes between the seventh and ninth, highlighted by a pair of scoreless innings from Tanner Scott in the eighth and ninth. 

In the bottom of the 10th, Emmanuel Rivera would deliver the final blow, a pinch-hit, walk-off single in what was Miami's first walk-off from a pinch-hitter since 2018. 

Of Note

- In drawing his 115 career BB against the Marlins, Bryce Harper moved into sole possession of second-place all-time in walks drawn against Miami. Only Chipper Jones (148) drew more. 

- Sunday marked the eighth time in Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s career where he has reached base safely at least 4 times. 

- Tim Anderson was out of the lineup a second consecutive day due to lingering back tightness.

Looking Ahead

Miami will resume play Monday when they open up a three-game series against the Tigers. Sixto Sánchez (0-1, 7.50 ERA) will make his first career appearance against Detroit as he squares off against Matt Manning (0-1. 4.24 ERA) in the series opener. 

First pitch from Comerica Park is slated for 6:40 EST.