Thoughts on De La Cruz, Bleier, Burdick after Miami Marlins rally to beat Brewers

While the Edward Cabrera injury news was the headliner of the Miami Marlins’ 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, here are three other topics from the game worth discussing.

The clutch hit

Bryan De La Cruz was not happy with the way his ninth-inning at-bat ended on Friday. The outfielder was called out on strikes against Brewers closer Devin Williams, with the final pitch landing well outside the strike zone.

On Saturday? De La Cruz got his redemption.

With two runners on base and one out in the ninth and the Marlins trailing by a run, De La Cruz worked the count full before sending a changeup at the bottom of the strike zone through the left side for a go-ahead, two-run single.

“Yesterday, he was able to eat,” De La Cruz said. “I was able to eat tonight.”

It’s the latest big moment for De La Cruz since being recalled from Triple A Jacksonville at the start of the month. In 21 games (19 starts), De La Cruz is hitting .367 (25 for 68) with eight doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI and 12 runs scored.

“He’s gotten back to his approach and being who he needs to be,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said pregame.

Richard Bleier with the save

After Cabrera left the game with a right ankle injury after three innings, the Marlins needed the bullpen to pick up six innings of work.

Richard Bleier was the seventh and final of those relievers to take the mound, and he capped the night with a 12-pitch ninth inning to keep Miami’s one-run lead intact and log his first save in three seasons with the Marlins. Bleier’s three outs all came via groundballs.

Bleier had four career saves prior to joining the Marlins early in the 2020 season.

“Just treat it like any other inning,” Bleier said of his approach to working a save situation. “I know the hitters and I have a plan against them, so we’re just kind of executing my plan and treating it like any other inning. I think that’s how I’ve always tried to go about it in my limited experience in the ninth. I think if you make it a big deal, it becomes a big deal.”

What is a big deal: Bleier has pitched a lot better as of late after a trying start to the season.

His ERA hit 6.00 on June 5 through his first 15 outings of the season. In the 38 since, Bleier has pitched to a 2.68 ERA (11 earned runs over 37 innings).

“The second half [of the season], he’s been good,” Mattingly said. “His movement [on his pitches] has been better. It’s been late. That’s really what kind of pitcher he is.”

Peyton Burdick homers

Peyton Burdick’s first taste of the big leagues did not go well. The outfielder and No. 13 overall prospect in the Marlins’ system according to MLB Pipeline hit just .171 with 33 strikeouts over 92 plate appearances before being optioned to Triple A Jacksonville on Sept. 6.

“Just got exposed up here,” Burdick said.

So when Burdick was recalled on Sept. 22 with a chance to close out the season on the big-league roster, he was ready to show he could finish on a high note.

Consider his third-inning at-bat on Saturday a moment from which to build.

Burdick sent a 2-0 sinker from Brewers starter Aaron Ashby to straightaway center field for a two-run home run to open scoring.

“That was nice,” Mattingly said. “Obviously he’s gotten beat up here a little bit ... but it’s nice to have some success so he can take some things into the winter.”

This story was originally published October 1, 2022 at 11:49 PM.

Jordan McPherson

Miami Herald

305-376-2129

Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.