Diamondbacks even series with Marlins, win 5-3

Making his first Major League start in 2016, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Godley missed the plate on his first seven consecutive pitches, and then with runners at first and third with still no outs, Christian Yelich got the Fish on the scoreboard with a groundout that scored Martin Prado.  Jose Fernandez, meanwhile, picked right up where he left off and punched out two in his first inning.  For the time being, it was a sign of good things to come.

In the top of the fourth, J.T. Realmuto hammered a 1-0 pitch over left field, his third home run of the season.  And Jose Fernandez continued to excel.  His breaking ball, in particular, was extra filthy.  In the bottom of the fourth, Fernandez spun a breaking ball so deceptive that Jean Segura fell flat on his rear end when he saw it aiming for his head, only for it to dramatically sink left.  He retired his first 15 batters, which beat his previous high of 14, and was in sharp pursuit of a no-hitter.

Until the bottom of the sixth inning.  Michael Bourn revitalized the Arizona offense with his first home run of the season, and Segura had his revenge, first lining a single and then tying the game when Jake Lamb doubled to deep right.  Paul Goldschmidt immediately singled up the middle and Lamb scored to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2.  Then Goldschmidt joined the barrage of scores when David Peralta tripled to deep left.

In the top of the seventh, Tyler Clippard replaced Godley, who turned in a decent performance for his first start of the season.  He surrendered two earned runs on four hits, walked three, and struck out three.  Fernandez was pulled as well, expertly fanning eight thru six innings but allowing four earned runs on five hits during that last inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Chris Herrmann knocked a solo homer high up into the seats, and in the top of the eighth Marcell Ozuna soloed to inch the Marlins closer, but when Justin Bour walked up to the plate, with Giancarlo Stanton on first, he failed to conjure up any magic similar to his grand slam that catapulted the Fish to victory last night.

Prado continued to hit well on the road, going 3 for 4, which included his second triple of the season.  Ichiro Suzuki got one hit closer to 3,000, now needing only 26 hits to eclipse that mark.  And Stanton continued his slump, reaching base once and only because he got nailed in the hand.

On Sunday, the Marlins will roll out Adam Conley against Robbie Ray at 4:10 ET.  Conley possesses a 3.76 ERA while Ray has a 5.14 ERA.