Stanton Returns! The Marlins lose in extras

Tonight marked the return of Giancarlo Stanton to Marlins Park for the first time since his trade to New York this past off season. Earlier in the day, Stanton stated:

Marlins fans were certainly keeping it positive, as they gave him a standing ovation as the former Marlin stepped up to bat in the first inning.

Stanton responded by lining a single to left off of starter Pablo Lopez.

Lopez, meanwhile, was dancing through raindrops for the first three innings, scattering three hits before being touched in the fourth by singles from Andujar, Torres and Neil Walker. Walker’s single to right drove home the first run of the game for the Yankees, but Lopez would get out of the inning without any additional damage.

In the fifth, Stanton ripped a 113.8 mph liner to left that hit ²⁄₃ up the left field wall, getting a double while narrowing missing his 300th career home run in front of his former home team’s fans. Stanton failed to score, as Lopez would go six strong innings while giving up just one the one run on six hits for the night.

In the bottom of the fifth, Austin Dean didn’t miss and tied the game up with his first hit in Marlins Park: a homer to center to tie up the game. He is now only 297 dingers behind Stanton.

In the seventh, the game was turned over to the bullpen who held both sides at bay until the bottom of the ninth when drama ensued.

Chad Green came in the game. Green walked J.T. Realmuto, then gave up a single to right to Brian Anderson which sent Realmuto to third. He struck out Derek Dietrich on a 3-2 fastball and then intentionally walked Starlin Castro to load the bases for Austin Dean. Dean also chased a high fastball and struck out. Two outs. JT Riddle grounded out to second to end the threat and send the game into extras.

In the bottom of the eleventh, the Yankees got out of a bases loaded, no out jam by getting a ground out from Yadiel Rivera and getting a strikeout from JT Riddle and getting Magneuris Sierra to meekly pop out to third.

When the Yanks had the bases loaded the very next inning, they did not fail to score, as Miguel Andjuar hit a sac fly to left to give them a 2-1 lead which they would not relinquish.

A night that started with the bittersweet excitement of seeing Giancarlo Stanton, ended in frustration for Marlins fans. Such is life in South Florida.

Fangraphs

King Fish: Pablo Lopez for going six strong frames

Flounder: JT Riddle for failing twice to drive in the winning run with the bases loaded

Turning Points: It’s a bi-modal graph tonight. Two failures to cash in late in the game

Attendance: 26,275