MIA 3, ARI 2: Bats Do Just Enough to Snap Skid

In what would be the 3rd of 4 meetings at Chase Field, the Miami Marlins’ luck seemed to begin prior to first pitch.

For the Marlins - themselves coming off their second four game losing streak of the season -a sigh of relief had to have been uttered when the Diamondbacks’ official Twitter account reported that Zac Gallen, the probable starter for Wednesday night’s contest, would be placed on the injured list with a sprained right elbow.

Gallen, who the Marlins traded to acquire Jazz Chisholm at the trade deadline in 2019, owns a 158 ERA+ (2.82) since his debut that same year. In 5 starts this season, the 25-year old owns a 1-1 record with a 3.04 over 26 innings pitched.

Starting in his place, Matt Peacock would struggle early, allowing a first inning home run to first baseman Jesús Aguilar. Peacock would go 5 innings in what was his first career big league start.

The home run, Aguilar’s 9th, extended his NL-leading RBI total to 31. All 9 of Aguilar’s home runs in 2021 have come on the road and have come over a 16 game stretch dating back to April 23rd. The Marlins’ first baseman owns a .754 slugging percentage in the previous 15 games entering play Wednesday.

Catcher Sandy Leon, who entered play 3 for his last 26 (.118), would hit his first home run as a Marlin, going deep in the second inning to give Miami a 3-1 lead.

Marlins starting pitching has been decimated by injury and mediocrity. Right-hander Cody Poteet became the 10th pitcher to receive a starting nod for the team this season in what would be his Major League debut.

The former UCLA Bruin would prove effective in his first taste of big league action, giving the Fish 5 innings of 2 run ball, striking out 6 while not walking a hitter and topping out at 97-mph. Poteet would allow a 5th inning home run to Andrew Young before retiring Pavin Smith to end his night.

“To throw to a guy like that (Leon) with that much experience provides so much comfort to me. I didn't have to do a lot other than just execute what he put down.“

What Leon put down helped Poteet induce 13 swings-and-misses over 39 swings (33%), with at least 1 occurring for each pitch in the right-hander’s arsenal.

Following Poteet, the Marlins bullpen, which entered play with a 3.44 ERA, authored four scoreless innings to seal a 3-2 victory, snapping the four game skid.

Dylan Floro would dance around a 1st and 3rd one out jam in the bottom of the 8th before striking out Josh Rojas and getting Asdrúbal Cabrera to fly out.

Closer Yimi García would allow a one-out single to Stephen Vogt before the latter was subbed for pinch runner Tim Locastro. The speedy outfielder who recently set a Major League record with 29 consecutive stolen bases to begin his career, Locastro would be doubled off after attempting to steal on an eventual Eduardo Escobar line drive that was snagged by Aguilar at first.

Miami will close the season series out against Arizona tomorrow, hoping to take 5 of 7 from the Snakes in 2021. Trevor Rogers (4-2, 1.89) is slated to make his first career start against the Diamondbacks, with Merrill Kelly (2-3, 5.40) in line to start for Arizona.

Baseball-Savant

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