Marlins Lose 5-2 on Walk-Off Home Run

The Marlins wasted a quality start from Pablo Lopez, losing to the Phillies 5-2.

Lopez, who came into tonight without a quality start this year, faced the minumum through 2 innings. After a brief 33-minute rain delay, he came back out and continued to dominate. Through his first five shutout innings, he didn’t allow an extra-base hit. His only blemish came in the sixth on a fastball thrown inside to Rhys Hoskins that he turned into a home run to left field.

The Marlins offense, however, was also dominated by great pitching. Nick Pivetta, who also came into the game with lackluster performances of late, kept the offense quiet. Pivetta’s night was almost a mirror reflection of Lopez’s. Besides a two-run home run by Justin Bour in the fourth, Pivetta didn’t allow an extra-base hit in six innings.

After a scoreless frame each for Adam Conley and Drew Steckrider, Kyle Barraclough came in totry to shut the door on a 2-1 game. It was clear from the start the Barraclough didn’t have control over his pitches after starting the inning with a walk to Rhys Hoskins. After getting Odubel Herrera to pop out, the Phillies were the benificiary of an oddly hit chopper next to the mound, that appeared to roll towards third base at the last second. Barraclough proceeded to walk Asdrubal Cabrera to load the bases. Once again, Nick Williams hit a weak chopper that just sneaked past Barraclough. However, this time Martin Prado was able to barehand it and make the throw to first, but not before the Phillies got the tying run. On the next at-bat, Maikel Franco hit a three-run home run to walk-off the Marlins.

In total, Barraclough threw 15 balls and only 9 strikes. He has now blown three straight saves, and has given up seven runs in 3 ²⁄₃ IP since the All-Star Break.

Fangraphs

Kingfish: Pablo Lopez (0.24 WPA)

Flounder: Kyle Barraclough (-0.79 WPA)

Moment of the Game: Maikel Franco’s walk-off home run.

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After rain forced the postponement of the Marlins vs. Braves series finale, the Fish travel to Philadelphia to start a four-game series. Because of the rainout last night, this will be the first game of the new month. The Marlins might be excited to see where August takes them, as have raised their team batting average every month since April.

Miami has come a long way from their 20-1 defeat at the hands of the Phillies back in April, leading the season series, 5-4.

Starting on the mound for the Marlins is Pablo López. López still hasn’t found his groove yet this season, sporting a 5.34 ERA in 5 starts. His last start was consistent with how his season has been going. In 5 ²⁄₃ innings, he gave up 4 runs on 9 hits in a loss to the Nats.

Going for the Phillies is Nick Pivetta. Pivetta is having his own struggles, with a record of 6-9 and a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts. He’s also coming off a rough performance in which he gave up 5 runs in 6 IP to the Reds.

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