Confident Marlins bounce back quickly to score ninth win in past 10 games
The wins the Miami Marlins stacked during their surprising streak “doubled down on confidence” players already had in themselves, Kyle Stowers noted, as this homestand got underway.
As a result, they “come to the ballpark now with an expectation to win,” manager Clayton McCullough stressed. And Wednesday night’s loss didn’t shake that belief.
With that same conviction, the Marlins clinched their fourth straight series Thursday afternoon, riding an early three-run lead and a brilliant outing from Eury Pérez to beat the Twins 4-1 at loanDepot park.
“It just continues to show the belief they have in each other,” McCullough said. “Very encouraging that we came out, got off to a good start, and were able to finish it off.”
In a rare 12:10 p.m. start, the Marlins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Otto Lopez drove in a run on a fielder’s choice after Xavier Edwards and Jesús Sánchez opened with consecutive singles. Agustín Ramírez then whacked a two-run homer off Twins starter David Festa 425 feet to left center.
Ramírez entered the game tied with the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz for most home runs (12) among MLB rookies.
The Marlins tacked on another run in the third as Sánchez ripped a single up the middle to score Edwards, who reached on an infield hit and stole second.
That was more than enough offense for Pérez, who gave the Marlins their third quality start in as many days.
With his family from the Dominican Republic watching for the second straight home start, Pérez allowed only one hit — a leadoff double by Trevor Larnach in the fourth — over six scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking one. Both his innings and strikeout totals marked season highs. His velocity maxed out at 99.5 mph.
“One of the best outings of the year — that’s what we’ve been working for,” Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “I can see the results. I feel very happy for the outcome. I feel great. Healthy. We will continue working for more outings like that.”
“He put it together and had a really great outing, so I’m really happy for him and us,” McCullough said. “Our team needed that start today.”
He added later of the 22-year-old Pérez, “He understands there’s a lot of room to still grow, which is scary for the league and great for us. And he’s never going to stop trying to get better.”
In Pérez’s previous four starts returning from Tommy John surgery, he pitched three innings, four innings, 4 1/3 and 4 2/3 with pitch counts of 70, 79, 89, and 93.
On Thursday, he needed just 80 pitches before turning it over to relievers Cade Gibson, Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher, and Ronny Henriquez for the final three innings — helped in part by fewer foul balls against him.
“We’ve been working on that part, trying to be more effective with all the pitches and finish all those batters,” Pérez said.
Reflecting on his five starts since returning from surgery, Pérez said, “The results have been good. The confidence is coming back. I’ve been using more of my breaking-ball pitches and improving the speed of those pitches as well. What we want is to win as many games as we can and get this team to the playoffs.”
While the Marlins’ hottest hitter coming into the game, Stowers, was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts against Festa as his nine-game hitting streak ended, Ramírez again flexed his offensive muscle. With his home run, Ramírez he extended his lead among rookies in extra-base hits to 29.
“Gus should be in that conversation for an All-Star bid,” McCullough said. “He’s had some really big hits. The power that he has shown, consistently hitting at the top of the order, the adjustments that he’s made, he’s continuing to get better behind the plate, working hard in that regard. Yes, with what he’s done offensively at that position, he certainly should be in that conversation.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Derek Hill, who was reinstated from the injured list on Tuesday, started in center field as Dane Myers got the day off. It was Hill’s first time in the starting lineup since May 25. Myers had started 21 of the past 24 games.
▪ Edwards and Sánchez were each 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Edwards also scored two runs.