MIA 3, WSH 6; Bullpen Blows Lead in Marlins’ Fourth Straight Loss

It was definitely an improvement over Monday’s catastrophic 18-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, but that isn’t saying much. The Marlins bullpen blew another lead after Trevor Rogers had his shortest outing since May 19 as the Miami dropped to 15 games below .500.

Following his All-Star Game appearance last Tuesday in which he gave up zero earned runs in one inning, Rogers was limited to an 85-pitch limit. In his five innings of work, he gave up two runs on five hits and two walks.

Rogers said he used that game and short break for a reset, both physically mentally after finishing the first half with what he called one of his “worst outings.”

“I really wasn’t commanding anything,” Rogers said. “Getting an inning with the best players in this game and having some success really showed me I can compete with these guys each and every time out there. So it really put me in a good headspace and really just cleaned stuff up for me mechanically and mentally as well.”

With Tuesday’s performance, Rogers tied Josh Johnson and José Fernández for the most consecutive starts with 3 earned runs or less in Marlins history, which he has done 20 straight times.

Down 2-0 in the sixth inning, Adam Duvall hit a go-ahead three-run home run to left field. Things were looking up for the Fish, who had come into Tuesday having lost three straight.

But things unravelled in the bottom half of the inning when Marlins reliever Richard Bleier came in to replace Rogers. After allowing a run to score on a Yadiel Hernandez single, Bleier hit Alcides Escobar with a pitch on the following at-bat.

Escobar had started his swinging motion on the hit-by-pitch, but the umpires ruled it a check swing. Although replays showed this call was correct, Bleier disagreed at the moment and argued with the umpires, leading to his ejection. Escobar, who was hit on the right wrist, was removed from the game. Bleier continued to argue with them while he was in the dugout. Anthony Bender allowed two inherited runners to score.

“I thought (Escobar) swung,” said Bleier, who hadn’t allowed a run in 12 outings. “Looking back at the video I was obviously wrong. And I think I was just mostly frustrated. I hope Escobar is okay. I didn’t even realize that he was down, because I just lost my demeanor and kind of took it out on the umpire there ... I’m embarrassed of my actions.It was tough to watch the replay. It’s definitely out of character for me in my opinion, it’s not how I normally act, and I’m sorry that I embarrassed myself and the organization in that manner.”

The Marlins have now lost four straight and seven of their last nine.

With Wednesday’s scheduled starting pitcher, Sandy Alcantara, being placed on the bereavement list, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said “we got a guy on the way”. A roster move will have to be made before an announcement is made.

Baseball Savant

Fish Picks Answer Key

1. Marlins
2. Under
3. Under
4. Yes
5. Nationals