MLB Scores: Marlins 3, Padres 8

On a day which saw the departure of Dan Haren, Sam Dyson and Jeff Baker, the Marlins got a clutch solo shot from Derek Dietrich off of the game's premier closer Craig Kimbrel with one out left to go in the game, but AJ Ramos and Andre Rienzo couldn't hold on and the Padres end up taking game one 8-3.

Things started out well for the Fish in their half of the first. Dee Gordon worked a walk off of the soon to be father of a fourth daughter aka Ian Kennedy and Christian Yelich set off the monstrosity with a long homerun to centerfield, giving the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

...and then, as we've seen in far too many games, the Marlins' offense was completely stymied, only accumulating three more hits through the next eight and two third's innings (Yelich with one and Adeiny Hechavarria with the other two). Kennedy's night ended having pitched seven innings giving up only the four hits, two earned runs, two walks and five K's. Joaquin Benoit pitched a scoreless eighth and Craig Kimbrel came in for the ninth, and many a Marlins fan probably had turned their tv off, having seen this show three times in the past week already. Indeed, Kimbrel looked as locked in as he had in his previous appearances, getting Justin Bour to ground out and Martin Prado down on strikes. Then, this happened:

Blown save, game tied 3-3, extra innings, new life.

Dan Jennings made an notable decision in the following inning to remove Dietrich from the game in favor of Cole Gillespie, undoubtedly with defense in mind, but a risk nonetheless as he subsequently seemed optimistic that the heretofore dormant line-up would be able to come through in relative quick fashion.

Things were going a little too well for the Marlins pen as of late, on pace to set a franchise record for the lowest ERA in the month of July, but it was not to be. AJ Ramos pitched a solid 10th but could not deliver in the 11th, walking three, the last of which scored a Padres run giving them the 4-3 advantage. Andre Rienzo then came in and promptly walked Derek Norris and another Padres run was plated without a hit, 5-3. Jedd Gyorko then blooped a two run single past a diving Hech and the rout was on, 7-3 Pads. Will Venable tacked on a run to make it 8-3. Yangervis Solarte would finally bounce out to end things, Ramos and Rienzo ultimately combining on 54 pitches thrown in the ugly inning. Kevin Quackenbush would get the Marlins 1-2-3 in the following inning to secure San Diego's victory.

David Phelps pitched well enough (as in, giving up a mere three runs albeit on seven hits, walking one and striking out two), but got no help beyond the Yelich bomb while he was on the mound. Brad Hand, Carter Capps and Mike Dunn were all effective in relief, combining for four innings of shut-out ball.

The Marlins are now 19 games under .500, a new season low, and with the Phildelphia Phillies on the upswing, real discussion can begin on securing the #1 pick in 2016. Marlins and Padres tomorrow in game two, 7:10 EST.

Source: FanGraphs

Attendance: 19,582

Hero of the Game: Derek Dietrich (+.396)

Goat of the Game: Craig Kimbrel (-.316)

Play of the Game: Derek Dietrich homerun in the 9th (+.490)