Miami Marlins walk-off Pirates in extras to back Hoeing’s start. Takeaways from the win
Jon Berti hit a walk-off single to lead the Miami Marlins to a 4-3, 11-inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and back on Saturday at loanDepot park.
Miami improves to 44-34 on the season, including 19-5 in one-run games and 4-1 in extra inning games. The Pirates fall to 35-41. Saturday was the Marlins’ fourth walk-off win of the season.
Joey Wendle started as the Marlins’ automatic runner on second base to begin the 11th inning. Nick Fortes hit a sacrifice bunt to move Wendle to third before Berti lofted a 2-1 changeup over the heart of the plate to right-center to score Wendle and seal the win.
It was the first walkoff hit of Berti’s MLB career.
“Felt like I had a couple of at-bats earlier in the game with runners in scoring position that I wish I was able to drive someone in earlier and give us a little bit more of a cushion,” Berti said. “Fortunate to have that final chance there and be able to come through. Obviously it’s a huge win for us.”
The Marlins had held the Pirates scoreless through seven innings before Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott each allowed a run to tie the game and force extra innings.
Pittsburgh scored a run in the 10th against Huascar Brazoban but Miami responded with a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th. Andrew Nardi then struck out the side in the top of the 11th to set up the walk-off win.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
Bryan Hoeing holding his own as rotation fill-in
The Marlins were in need of someone to step up in the starting rotation with three mainstays on the injured list in Trevor Rogers, Edward Cabrera and Johnny Cueto.
Enter Bryan Hoeing, who was being used out of the bullpen for nearly the past two months before being re-inserted into the starting rotation this week.
After throwing four shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in his first start since April 30, Hoeing held the Pirates without a hit over a career-high-tying five innings of work. He issued three walks, including two to Andrew McCutchen, but stranded all three of the runners. He struck out two and threw 65 pitches.
“We really needed him to step up,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s just growing and maturing. He knows he can do it now. ... When he gives five innings and only has 60 to 70 pitches, man that’s huge for us.”
Hoeing, who primarily throws a sinker and a slider while occasionally mixing in a changeup, has been steady all season for the Marlins regardless of the role. He has a 2.45 ERA with 27 strikeouts against 11 walks and a .238 batting average against over 33 innings of work in 18 appearances (four starts).
Saturday also marked the third consecutive game in which the Marlins’ starting pitcher held the Pirates scoreless. Both Braxton Garrett on Thursday and Jesus Luzardo on Friday pitched seven shutout innings in the first two games of the series.
Luis Arraez: Power Hitter
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez only had one hit on Saturday, but it proved to be pivotal.
With a 1-0 count in the fifth inning against Pirates starter Osvaldo Bido, Arraez sent a near middle-middle fastball a projected 370 feet down the right-field line for a two-run home run.
It was Arraez’s third home run of the season and his first at loanDepot park as a member of the Marlins.
Arraez also drew a walk in the seventh inning in addition an intentional walk in the ninth.
With the 1-for-3 night, Arraez’s batting average on the season is at .401.
A chance for a winning homestand
The Marlins are 3-3 so far on this seven-game homestand after dropping two of three games against the Blue Jays and winning two of the first three games of the four-game series against the Pirates.
Miami closes the series with Pittsburgh on Sunday, with first pitch from loanDepot park set for 1:40 p.m.
Marlins right-handed pitcher Eury Perez (4-1, 1.54 ERA) will make his ninth start of his MLB career and go opposite the Pirates’ Johan Oviedo (3-7, 4.30).
This story was originally published June 24, 2023 at 7:19 PM.
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