MIA 4, TOR 5; Losing skid continues in Buffalo in game of inches

Francisco Cervelli’s game-tying, two-out, three-run shot in the ninth sparked hope and briefly flipped the main storyline, but a walk-off 10th-inning single from Travis Shaw extended the Miami Marlins’ losing skid to three Tuesday night. Hosting the first of many home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, the Blue Jays prevailed in the series opener, 5-4.

Major League Baseball hadn’t been in Buffalo since 1915. The Triple-A facility didn’t seem to bother left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu, Toronto’s top free agent signing this past winter, who held the Miami offense to two hits and a run through six innings. In the second, the Marlins opened the scoring via a home run, this time from Brian Anderson, delivering a 3-2 Ryu changeup over the wall in left field.

Similarly, Elieser Hernandez, who tossed 4 ¹⁄₃ shutout innings in his 2020 debut against the Baltimore Orioles Aug. 5, had only one big mistake. Unfortunately, it came to Bo Bichette when there were a pair of runners on base. The talented shortstop belted a three-run home run to put the Blue Jays ahead in the sixth, 3-1.

With the new extra-innings rule added for 2020, a speedy Lewis Brinson began the 10th on second base. It appeared as if Logan Forsythe, Miami’s starting first baseman Tuesday night, belted a go-ahead two-run shot down the left-field foul pole. But after review, the umpiring crew overturned the call.

Moments later, Forsythe struck out swinging, keeping the game knotted at four.

During the decisive bottom of the 10th, the Marlins were victimized by a mistake when Cavan Biggio was awarded a walk on a 3-1 pitch that was clearly in the strike zone. However, manager Don Mattingly declined to pin the loss on the officials when addressing the media postgame.

Following a Braves loss to the New York Yankees, the Fish remain in first place atop the NL East with their 7-4 record.

The Marlins will turn to Jordan Yamamoto Wednesday night to break their losing troubles. Yamamoto had a disappointing performance in his season debut Aug. 6, as the Baltimore Orioles tagged the right-hander for four runs, including two home runs, on six hits in four innings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:37 p.m. ET.

Marlins vs. Blue Jays box score

Fish Picks Answer Key

1. Blue Jays
2. Under
3. Over
4. No
5. Blue Jays