MIA 6, MIL 2: Aguilar’s Bat Continues to Shine as Fish Win Series

Hoping to secure their first series win since April 18, the Marlins turned to their ace, Sandy Alcantara, himself still searching for his first win of the season. They would do just that, thanks in large part to the strong pitching of Alcantara and the homer-happy Jesús Aguilar.

Following a second inning that saw the team plate two runs off of starter Zack Godley in his Brewers debut, Alcantara surrendered a game-tying two run homer to second baseman Kolten Wong in the bottom of the third.

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The Marlins would answer back in a huge way though when first baseman Jesús Aguilar took a 73-mph Eric Yardley curveball over the left field wall for his fifth home run over his last six games, giving Miami a 5-2 lead in the process. Aguilar’s home run was facilitated by a botched transfer from second baseman Wong on a would-be double play that allowed Miguel Rojas to be safe at first.

For Alcantara, the Marlins right-hander would pick up his first victory of the season, throwing a season-high 7 innings, reaching 100 mph with his sinker four times in today’s outing, striking 4 while walking none. In his six starts this season, Alcantara has now pitched into the 7th inning in three of those outings.

Wednesday’s going-away win was not without its moments of concern though.

Prior to the start of the game, the team announced that second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. , who exited last night’s game in the bottom of the first, would be placed on the 10-day IL with a injured left hamstring. At the time of his injury, Chisholm was leading the Senior Circuit with 7 stolen bases. Among second basemen with at least 50 at bats this season, Chisholm ranks second with a 155 OPS+, trailing only Nick Solak (170).

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Stepping in for the injured Chisholm, Isan Díaz, who competed with Chisholm for the starting second base job in Spring Training, reached base three times in his first action in 2021, walking twice and driving in a run.

During the game, the team would lose two-thirds of its starting outfield as left fielder Corey Dickerson—who entered Wednesday hitting .538 over his past 4 games—and right fielder Garrett Cooper would leave with right groin discomfort and a sore left foot.

Fortunately for the already injury-riddled Fish, both are listed as day-to-day and could play as early as Friday when the team opens up their series against the Nationals.

With nine games in nine days, the Marlins now have a chance to come up for air with an off day scheduled for Thursday. The team will travel to the nation’s capital where they will begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals with Pablo López slated to get the ball in game one.

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Fish Picks Answer Key

1. Over
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Marlins