For the Miami Marlins, scoring runs has been a consistent challenge. Despite scoring ten runs on Friday night, the Marlins fell to the visiting San Francisco Giants 14-10.
Nathan Eovaldi struggles early
In his previous four starts leading up to Friday night, right hander Nathan Eovaldi had recorded a 1.04 earned run average with a .170 opponents' batting average. However, Eovaldi struggled to continue his run of successful starts against the Giants after a three inning performance during which he had a hard time commanding all of his pitches.
Following a four run first inning and three run second by the Giants, Eovaldi's pitch count quickly rose. The first five batters successfully reached base in the first, with a Hunter Pence RBI double and Pablo Sandoval single making it a 7-0 game after two innings.
Over his three innings, Eovaldi surrendered 12 hits and 11 runs (nine earned) while striking out three and walking one. In one of the worst starts of his young career, Eovaldi tied a Marlins record for runs allowed.
Giants outfielder Hunter Pence plated five runs, while Hector Sanchez hit a three run home run and Sandoval drove in three runs en route to the highest scoring game in Marlins Park's young history.
Miami's offense efficient, can't tie game with key opportunity
Facing former Marlins long reliever Chad Gaudin, Miami was able to capitalize on several San Francisco mistakes.
RBI hits off the bats of Donovan Solano, Placido Polanco and Logan Morrison drew the Marlins within three runs and made it a 7-4 game through three innings.
Coming off the bench, Justin Ruggiano had a pair of homers, one of which came in the fourth inning after the Giants had scored five additional runs.
The Marlins were able to score eight times off of Gaudin over four innings, however only scored two runs against the San Francisco bullpen over the contest's final five innings.
After a four-run fifth inning, Miami was able to make it a 12-9 game, though the squad struggled to collect a key hit with men on base.
Marlins' bullpen surrenders three runs
After the departure of Eovaldi, Miami's bullpen continued to struggle keeping the Giants off the board.
Ryan Webb, who collected his first major league hit on Friday, gave up a run over three innings, and lefty Dan Jennings gave up two over the subsequent three.
Arquimedes Caminero threw a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut, and Chad Qualls worked a scoreless eighth.
Source: FanGraphs