A tale of two seasons: Falter two-hits Fish as Pirates complete 2024 sweep

There was a party in Pittsburgh 347 days ago as the Miami Marlins secured their first full-season playoff berth in twenty years right in front of a young, up and coming Pirates squad. Many members of the team even stayed behind to watch their opponents soak in the moment or to use the scene for extra motivation moving into 2024.

The Pirates will fall short of reaching the postseason themselves this year, but at least they got back at Miami in head-to-head competition.

After sending the Marlins into an instant spiral during the season-opening series way back in March, Derek Shelton and Co. doubled down in their second meeting back at PNC Park. Wednesday afternoon's 3-1 win ensured a season sweep over Miami, a perfect 7-0 record.

Leading the way was Bailey Falter, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Jonah Bride and Cristian Pache singled, leading to Falter's departure.

As expected, the lefty didn't overpower Miami's lineup, topping out at 92.9 mph on his four-seamer, although he demonstrated some pretty serious swing-and-miss stuff. Falter collected 18 whiffs across 93 pitches (38%), with ten of them coming on his slider. Additionally, the breaking pitch was responsible for three of Falter's five strikeouts.

"Falter was really good." Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said postgame. "Fastball at top of the zone that we couldn't get on top of...just a lot of weak contact and strikeouts. The slider was super effective as well. We just couldn't flush anything...Today was his day and he was just better than us today."

Similar to the first three games, Miami did rally late, putting the tying run on first after Pache's second hit of the day put his team on the board.

Kyle Stowers reached on an infield single—his third hit in two games—to load the bases for Xavier Edwards, but Miami's best contact hitter couldn't pass the baton, flying out to, you guessed it, former Marlin Bryan De La Cruz to put a bow on the series. 

Of Note

- Wednesday was a bullpen day from the start, as Jonathan Bermúdez got the ball. Bermúdez displayed shaky command and was unable to get in front of hitters consistently which led to him allowing three earned runs on three hits in just two innings of work.

- Following Bermúdez and John McMillon's injury-shortened appearance was Xzavion Curry, who kept Miami in the game as a long reliever. "He saved us", said his manager. "He kept us in the game, I can't say enough about what he did...he pitched."

- McMillon was removed from the game after just two pitches (both fastballs that registered far below his usual velocity). He left the game with tightness in his right forearm area, per Schumaker.

- Declan Cronin continued his eye-catching streak of keeping balls in the yard.

Up Next

Miami heads to the nation's capital to face the Nationals, a team they faced just last week in South Florida. Darren McCaughan toes the slab for the Fish, opposing another lefty, rookie Mitchell Parker. Parker was dominant in his last start against Miami in mid-June, tossing six innings of one-run ball. First pitch is slated for 6:45 ET.