Quantrill suffers rough start as Marlins drop second in a row to the Astros

The Marlins won’t get a chance to win a seventh consecutive series, which would have broken their franchise record shared with the 1997 team.

After dropping Monday’s opener to the Astros by six runs, they were beaten again Tuesday night, 7-3 at loanDepot park. They’re now two games under .500 (55-57) with 50 games remaining as they try to creep into playoff contention.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough’s message to his players?

“Come out tomorrow and find a way to salvage this series,” he said. “It hasn’t gone great the first couple of nights. We’ve just been beaten. We come out tomorrow and try to wash it away and salvage this one and try to carry a little momentum into Atlanta.

“A couple losses happen all the time during the season, and our group has been really good about responding. I don’t know what the outcome is going to be tomorrow, but I fully expect that we’ll come out and be ready to go and put our best foot forward.”

On Tuesday, the Marlins needed a solid start from right-hander Cal Quantrill — and didn’t come close to getting it.

Quantrill was tagged for seven runs on nine hits, including two home runs, and lasted just 4 1/3 innings before giving way to reliever Valente Bellozo. The seven runs matched his season high from April 19, when he allowed that total over 3 1/3 innings in Philadelphia.

“It just wasn’t in the same kind of rhythm, wasn’t in the same flow that he has been,” McCullough said. “One of those nights where you just don’t execute at the same level that he has been going for a while, which that certainly is totally okay, and it does happen. I expect Cal is to wash this one away and come back ready for his next one.”

Quantrill echoed those sentiments.

“I made a couple of bad pitches with runners on and it burned me,” Quantrill said. “It’s been a good two months. It’s been a good two months. So put this one in the past and keep going.”

Quantrill, who gave up hits to the last four batters he faced, never settled in Tuesday, struggling with his command and issuing three walks.

Jose Altuve gave the Astros the lead in the first inning with a two-run homer to left. Then in the fourth, after Quantrill retired the first two Astros, Mauricio Dubon singled, Ramón Urias walked and Jeremy Pena drilled a triple to right field to score two runs.

In the fifth, Carlos Correa singled, Christian Walker doubled, and then Yainer Diaz homered 405 feet to left center for a 7-1 lead.

“I just didn’t locate,” Quantrill said. “I wasn’t ahead in as many counts as I usually am and I paid the price.”

In the bottom of the inning, Jakob Marsee, who had an RBI single in the second inning, hit his first MLB home run — a 409-foot shot to right field off AJ Blubaugh.

“It was really special, and I was really excited running around bases,” Marsee said. “Seeing it go over was really cool.”

“I am stoked for him,” said Marlins first baseman Eric Wagaman. “The guy has been playing unbelievable.”

Marsee was 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI, scored a run, and made another impressive catch in center field.

He is the fifth player in Marlins history to record at least one single, one double, one triple and one home run in his first five career games, joining Griffin Conine (2024), Miguel Cabrera (2003), Kevin Millar (1999), and Todd Dunwoody (1997).

“I’ve just been really happy with myself being able to stay within myself and not make any moment too big,” Marsee said. “That’s really been my priority.

And the guys have made it such an easy transition.”

Wagaman homered in the seventh inning for the Marlins — his first long ball since June 17.

“It felt great to see it go over the fence, for sure,” Wagaman said. “I feel definitely capable of doing that somewhat consistently.”

Before the game, McCullough said Wagaman had been having quality at-bats and was on the verge of a breakout.

“His swings look more convicted, more aggressive, and nice to see for Eric,” McCullough said after the game. “He’s been really grinding.”

• Outfielder Kyle Stowers was named the Marlins’ recipient of the 2025 MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award given to players “who embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.” The award is voted on by former MLB players.

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM.