MLB Scores: Marlins 2 Indians 6

The Miami Marlins have now lost eight of their last eleven games, as the offense once again didn’t show any life in a 6-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Friday evening at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Andrew Cashner failed to give the Marlins a quality start yet again, as he allowed all six runs that the Indians scored, while allowing six hits and six walks in 5.0 innings pitched.

Miami dug themselves into a big hole in the bottom of the first inning, when the Indians tacked on three runs to give them an early cushion. A walk, a fielder’s choice, and an RBI groundout are not the prettiest ways to score runs, but it clearly works for the Indians, as that’s what they used to take the early lead. Cleveland would add on to that lead in the next inning, when Carlos Santana drove Tyler Naquin home on a sacrifice fly, which gave Cleveland the 4-0 advantage heading into the third inning.

Cleveland put a dent in any hopes the Marlins had of coming back, as Abraham Almonte doubled to right, which scored Jose Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall, and that gave the Indians a comfortable 6-0 lead. Miami ended the shutout in the eighth inning, when J.T. Realmuto sent the ball into the stands for a two-run homer, which cut the lead to 6-2. Other than ending the shutout, that homer wouldn’t do much as the Indians wound up defeating the Marlins 6-2 in the series opener. Cashner was given the loss, while Carlos Carrasco was the winning pitcher for the Indians.

Cashner has still not won a game in a Marlins uniform. Carrasco pitched a gem, as he allowed zero runs and six hits, while striking out 11 batters in 7.1 innings of work. Cody Allen replaced Jeff Manship in the ninth inning, and Allen pitched a clean ninth inning, however, Allen was not pitching in a save situation.

Realmuto had a big night at the plate for the Marlins, as he went 3-4 with a home run. Miami remains three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card. The Marlins will look to even this series tomorrow, when these two teams face off at 7:10 ET.

Source: FanGraphs

Hero of the Game: Carlos Carrasco (0.21)

Goat of the Game: Andrew Cashner (-0.29)

Play of the Game: Mike Napoli walked, Carlos Santana scores (0.77)