Miami Marlins week in review: ‘When there are games to be won, you win ‘em’
During a postgame press conference last week, first-year Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker gave a telling if not obvious quip.
“When there are games to be won,” Schumaker said, “you win ‘em. That’s what I believe.”
The line was given during a question asked about his bullpen before he went on to explain a specific instance in which the saying applied.
But the quote can be used to explain several of the manager’s moves that helped the Marlins win their first two games against the Arizona Diamondbacks at home to improve their record to 8-8 and cap a week in which Miami won four of its six games.
Two of the instances came with late-inning decisions with the bullpen.
On Friday, with Miami holding a four-run lead going into the eighth inning Schumaker could have gone with some of his secondary options among his group of relief pitchers and saved his main arms for more
Instead, he turned to his two primary high-leverage relievers to shut the door in an eventual 5-1 win.
Schumaker brought in Dylan Floro to pitch the eighth inning. Three up, three down.
And then in the ninth, he called upon A.J. Puk, who worked around a two-out single for another scoreless frame to seal the win.
One day later, Schumaker firmly put himself into a chess match with Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. Right-handed pitcher Huascar Brazoban had pitched the eighth inning, and Schumaker sent him back to the mound to begin the ninth with shortstop and right-handed pitcher Nick Ahmed due to lead off the inning. Lovullo had left-handed hitter Pavin Smith pinch-hit for Ahmed. Schumaker then went to the mound and replaced Brazoban with lefty Tanner Scott, who retired the side to cap a one-run win and earn the save.
And how did Miami get the lead in that game? Luis Arraez had a go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning with runners on the corners. Schumaker had kept Arraez out of the starting lineup on both Friday and Saturday with the star second baseman dealing with a cut on his left index finger. Schumaker said Arraez was available to pinch-hit but was only going to do so if there was a chance he could make a game-defining play.
There were games to be won. Schumaker went to win them.
Game recaps from this week
▪ Monday — Phillies 15, Marlins 3: Sandy Alcantara gave up nine runs over just four innings and Miami never recovered.
▪ Tuesday — Marlins 8, Phillies 4: Luis Arraez hit for the first cycle in Marlins history.
▪ Wednesday — Marlins 3, Phillies 2 (10 innings): Jorge Soler hit a game-tying home run and Bryan De La Cruz drove in the go-ahead run in extra innings to secure the series victory.
▪ Friday — Marlins 5, Diamondbacks 1: Trevor Rogers had his best outing of the young season and was supported by clutch hitting in the fourth inning.
▪ Saturday — Marlins 3, Diamondbacks 2: Arraez’s pinch-hit single in the seventh inning capped a Marlins rally to win the series.
▪ Sunday — Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 0: Former Marlins pitcher Zac Gallen out-dueled Alcantara and stopped Miami from sweeping the series.
Devin Smeltzer gives back
Marlins relief pitcher Devin Smeltzer provided an early feel-good moment prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Phillies when he met with Frankie LaSasso, a friend of a family friend who was diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia in December 2020 and went through his final round of chemotherapy earlier that day.
Smeltzer, a New Jersey native, had been in LaSasso’s position before. He was diagnosed with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer, when he was 9 years old. Two years into receiving treatment, Smeltzer had the opportunity to meet one of his baseball heroes, the Phillies’ Chase Utley, during batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. Smeltzer’s cancer went into full remission in 2012.
“The biggest thing for me was when I met Utley and [Cole] Hamels, they just treated me like another player,” Smeltzer said. “Wasn’t like I was a sick kid. It’s something that always stuck with me, and just being able to give those kids a sense of normalcy and being a good role model.”
Smeltzer played catch with Frankie and his brother Gino, gave both of them Marlins caps, signed baseballs for them and took photos on the field.
Smeltzer’s message to Frankie?
“Just stay strong,” Smeltzer said. “Find the best of every day. I’ve been talking to him a lot during his down times and good times. Just find the light in every day.”
In case you missed it
▪ Want more context on Arraez’s cycle? Here are 10 facts.
▪ Veteran Yuli Gurriel has adjusted to his role as a spot starter/off-the-bench bat.
▪ Behind improved stuff and family support, Jesus Luzardo is living up to his potential.
▪ Jean Segura enjoyed his “special” World Series run with the Phillies and hopes for similar success in Miami.
▪ Jon Berti is once again stepping up for the Marlins when pressed into a key role.
Upcoming Marlins schedule
Monday: Marlins vs. Giants, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday: Marlins vs. Giants, 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Marlins vs. Giants, 1:10 p.m.
Thursday: OFF
Friday: Marlins @ Guardians, 7:10 p.m.
Saturday: Marlins @ Guardians, 6:10 p.m.
Sunday: Marlins @ Guardians, 1:40 p.m.
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