Marlins’ Offense Can’t Repeat Prior Performance, Drop Series Finale

The Marlins offensive production couldn’t keep pace with with what they had accomplished the prior two nights. Less than 24 hours after mustering 11 runs on 17 hits, the Marlins could only manage a single run on four hits.

Cardinals’ starting pitcher,Miles Mikolas, had the answer to the Marlins’ offense that the Cards were missing all week. After allowing Derek Dietrich and Justin Bour to reach base in the first inning, Mikolas proceeded to retire the next 14 batters he faced. That stretch ended when Starlin Castro reached base in the sixth on a Dexter Fowler error in right field. Bour took advantage of the mistake, and drove home Castro on a double to center field. However, this was the only offense the Marlins could get today.

Marlins’ starting pitcher Trevor Richards, who made his first start since being demoted on April 25, got off on the wrong foot early today. With only one out in the first inning, Jose Martínez hit a two-run home run to left field to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. He settled down and kept the Cardinals at bay through the fifth inning. Having only thrown 76 pitches entering the sixth, Don Mattingly chose to let Richards try to get through the inning. However, he was pulled after allowing two straight singles.

Brad Ziegler came in to take his place, and allowed a run off a Marcel Ozuna single. Richards was tabbed with that run. Although Richards allowed three earned runs in five innings, he allowed zero walks—his first such start of his young career.

One bright spot from today was the debut of relief pitcher Ben Meyer, who was called up from Triple-A New Orleans on June 6. After Adam Conley allowed a home run and a single in the seventh inning, Meyer was summoned from the bullpen, and promptly recorded three straight outs.

Next up: the 25th Anniversary Weekend celebration awaits back in Miami.

Swordfish: Justin Bour (.127 WPA)

Flounder: JT Riddle (-.142)

Moment of the Game: Jose Martínez’s two-run home run in the first inning.

Please leave any Icthy picks in the comments below. Remember, we introduced a new grand prize for the contest this season!

Matchup Summary

The Marlins enter today looking for their first sweep of the season. Two games into this series, and the Fish have already scored more runs (18) than they have over their previous six games combined (14).

Derek Dietrich has been responsible for some of that. In this series, he’s gone 6-for-8 with 4 RBI. Last night, the Marlins got tons of production from a surprising source—Lewis Brinson went 3-for-5 with 2 home runs.

On the mound for the Fish will be Trevor Richards. Richards was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans on April 25 after posting an 0-2 record with a 4.94 ERA in the bigs. In his time in NOLA, he went 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA.

He should have a sizable following in St. Louis. The right-hander was born and raised about 45 minutes from Busch Stadium. First pitch at 1:15pm ET.

Thread Question: What do you make of Sandy Alcántara not being called up, yet?