Earning Their Stripes: 6/29/21

The Miami Marlins continue to focus on coming seasons with a reinvigorated farm system.

In action on Tuesday, the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins (replacing the Gulf Coast League Marlins) took the field in intramural competition for the first time since 2019. The Low-A Jupiter Hammerheads (22-26) were rained out of their scheduled matchup against the Tampa Tarpons (32-15). The makeup game is now slated to run as part of a seven-inning doubleheader.

Triple-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1, Memphis Redbirds 1 (suspended in the sixth inning)

Lewin Díaz connected for his eighth home run of the season in the first inning, and Jacksonville pitching held the Redbirds to one run as well despite surrendering a dozen hits in just under six innings.

Shawn Morimando gave up Memphis’ run in the fifth inning, giving up a total of 10 hits and two walks. he struck out four and put 53-of-83 in the zone. Lewis Brinson led Jacksonville’s offense with a pair of hits, both singles. The game was suspended with the bases loaded for Memphis in the bottom of the sixth and nobody out.

Official attendance was announced at 3,070 in AutoZone Park, but the statistics aren’t going to be official until the two finish the game. It’s likely to be completed as part of a doubleheader tonight, with the first game resuming in the bottom of the sixth and the second probably scheduled for seven innings. Eric Stout (0-1, 15.58) is currently slated to start the second game, but stay tuned for developments.

Double-A

Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5, Biloxi Shuckers 3

On a partly cloudy 88° night in Pensacola, with 4,409 on hand at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the hometown Wahoos supported Marlins number three prospect Max Meyer with enough support to lock in a victory.

Meyer (4-1, 1.84) displayed his full arsenal of pitches, getting 51-of-72 offerings over the plate in six innings of work, striking out six batters. The Shuckers drew one walk and collected four singles, but couldn’t score on Meyer.

In the meantime, Demetrius Sims gave the Wahoos an early lead with a second-inning solo home run. In the fourth, Nick Fortes contributed a two-run single to triple Pensacola’s advantage. Peyton Burdick added a two-run double in the eighth for a 5-0 lead headed to the ninth.

De facto Wahoos closer Colton Hock didn’t have his best stuff, but he was good enough to earn his 11th save of the season with a 1 ¹⁄₃ inning appearance. Hock gave up all three runs on three hits, striking out one.

Despite Pensacola’s knack for crossing the plate, Biloxi pitching held the good guys to five hits, with no Wahoo player collecting more than one. Edward Cabrera and his 0.87 ERA has next, tonight against the Shuckers at 7:35 PM.

High-A

Beloit Snappers 1, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3

Despite collecting his High-A Central runner-up 14th home run, Griffin Conine couldn’t help the Snappers finish on top. Wisconsin pitching was nearly unhittable for Beloit on Tuesday, holding the Snappers to two hits (Ynmanol Marinez added a single).

With a crowd of 331 on hand at Pohlman Field, and a game-time temperature of 77°, Beloit pitching wasn’t anything to sneeze at either. Zach McCambley (2-3, 2.95) was saddled with the loss despite being largely effective in his five innings of work. He allowed two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out five and getting 52-of-80 pitches in the black. Jake Walters had his best stuff on tap, whiffing eight in three shutout innings of relief.

Tomorrow beginning at 7:35 PM, Bryan Hoeing (3-4, 6.85) will get his turn in the rotation.

Rookie

FCL Marlins 6, FCL Mets 7

The Marlins opened their season against the Mets, who began their trek with a loss in action yesterday. Marcus Chiu drove him their first run of the campaign with a fourth-inning RBI-double for a 1-0 lead. In the sixth, Javeon Cody knocked one in with a single, followed by Jose Estrada’s two-run double for a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Luis Vizcaino limited the baby-Mets to a single, a double, and zero walks, holding them scoreless through five innings of work. Vizcaino struck out seven in his return to action.

By the bottom of the eighth, the Marlins were trailing 5-4, when prospect Ian Lewis smacked his first home run of his professional career, a two-run shot to take a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately, the bullpen wasn’t up to protecting the lead as the club eventually fell.

Aside from the obvious highlight of Lewis’ home run, Cody was also dynamite. The ultra-athletic outfielder out of Alvin Community College logged a walk and a pair of singles, stealing a total of three bases on three attempts. José Salas (two singles) and José Estrada (1b, 2b) also collected multiple hits for the good guys.

The Marlins will take on the rookie-version of the Houston Astros today starting at noon.