The Marlins and Astros faced off for game two of their series on Super Saturday at Sun Life Stadium, and despite a lackluster start to the game, the Fish won their fifth straight for the first time all season.
Chris Volstad didn't have a great first inning. He walked the lead-off batter Michael Bourn on four pitches, then gave up a single to Angel Sanchez. Next, Hunter Pence reached on a fielder's choice, and Bourn got caught in a rundown and was tagged out by Volstad as he tried to score. With runners at second and third and only one out, Carlos Lee singled to drive in two, and put the Astros on top 2-0.
Chris settled down after the first and didn't allow another run, unfortunately Wandy Rodriguez was being pretty stingy with runs himself. He held the Marlins scoreless through the fifth inning, but the Fish finally broke through in the sixth. Gaby Sanchez singled to lead off the inning, and Dan Uggla grounded into what should have been a double play, but instead reached on a fielding error by Chris Johnson. After Mike Stanton struck out swinging, Cody Ross tripled to plate both runs and tie up the game. Then in the very next at-bat, Wes Helms hit a triple as well, which scored Cody and gave the Marlins the lead. The back-to-back triples were the very first in Marlins history.
Volstad came out to pitch the seventh, but after he walked lead-off batter Jason Castro, Edwin had seen enough. After Vols allowed two runs on five hits through six, the Marlins dipped into the bullpen. Will Ohman handled the first two outs of the inning, and Jose Veras handled the third.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Astros went to the bullpen as well, and Mark Melancon took over for Wandy. Hanley reached base on another fielding error by Chris Johnson, Logan Morrison walked, and Gaby Sanchez doubled in two runs to put the Fish up 5-2. After Dan Uggla walked, Stanton struck out swinging (again) and Cody flied out, and then Wes collected another RBI on a single to right. With two out, Gustavo Chacin took over on the mound and walked Brett Hayes to load the bases, but then he struck out Hector Luna to end the inning.
Clay Hensley pitched the eighth inning for the Fish, and worked around a lead-off double by Hunter Pence to hold the score at 6-2. Then Leo was called on to get some work in the ninth, and as always, made it plenty interesting. He walked Blum, then with two out issued another walk to Bourn, and allowed a run on a single by Angel Sanchez. But then Leo struck out Pence swinging, and after a 33-pitch ninth, the Marlins took the series.