Marlins’ big rally all for naught as Jake Lamb, Diamondbacks get last laugh

Diamondbacks first baseman Jake Lamb snuck a double just inside the right field line, scoring three teammates, putting the Snakes ahead for good on Monday night and tagging the Marlins with a 7-5 loss. This 98th defeat of the season matches the Marlins’ total from 2018 (and there are still 12 games left to play).

Pablo López: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR (84 pitches)

Robbie Ray: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K (96 pitches)

Pablo immediately got his outing started on the wrong note, plunking Wilmer Flores with a high fastball to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Next man up Josh Rojas was also hit by a pitch, then with one out and the bases loaded, so was Jake Lamb. The Marlins limited the damage thanks to an Adam Jones double play.

Despite missing a few months on the injured list, López leads all Marlins pitchers with 11 HBP this season.

Don Mattingly stacked his batting order with right-handed bats against Robbie Ray. The platoon advantage did not have the desired effect—Ray carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The strikeout artist leaned heavily on breaking balls to get chases below the zone.

Miguel Rojas and Starlin Castro had the best swings of the night against Ray, with Castro singling to center to break up the no-hit bid.

Despite a 3-0 cushion entering the seventh inning, the D-backs were quick to remove Ray from the ballgame after a leadoff walk. Yoan López promptly served up a two-run home run to Neil Walker.

Four Marlins players have combined for eight pinch-hit home runs this season. That matches a franchise record (previously done in 1999 and 2009).

Brought in to match up with Magneuris Sierra, Andrew Chafin threw more gas on the fire. His error on Sierra’s bunt attempt allowed everybody to move up two bases and tied the game at 3-3. That’s what speed can do!

Jon Berti followed with a two-run single against Yoshihisa Hirano to give the Fish their first lead of the night.

It didn’t last, of course. Tayron Guerrero and Tyler Kinley were responsible for four runs (all earned). Kinley came an out away from keeping things at 5-4 before Lamb’s clutch double on a poorly located slider.

Lewis Brinson went 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .188. Left-hander Josh Smith made his Marlins debut in the bottom of the eighth. Impressively, he inherited a pair of baserunners with nobody out and retired the next three batters in order.

A few injury notes...

• Jordan Yamamoto (right forearm strain) threw a 66-pitch simulated game at Marlins instructional league earlier in the day. He figures to be reinstated from the injured list this weekend.
• Garrett Cooper (left knee contusion) flew back to Miami to undergo an MRI. Craig Mish reports that he is unlikely to play another game in 2019.

Same time (9:40 p.m. ET first pitch), same place for game two of the series on Tuesday. Caleb Smith and Alex Young are the probable starters.

Marlins vs. Diamondbacks box score (Baseball Theater)

Fish Picks answer key

1. Diamondbacks
2. Under
3. Over
4. Yes
5. Diamondbacks