MIAMI—Following one of the most exciting games in franchise history on Friday, the Miami Marlins shut out the New York Yankees on Saturday thanks to six dominant innings from Eury Pérez and a pair of Agustín Ramírez home runs. On Sunday, a day when the club inducted Jack McKeon—who managed the club that usurped those Yankees in the 2003 World Series—into the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame, Edward Cabrera picked up where the aforementioned Pérez left off, twirling six brilliant frames of his own. A 7-3 victory completed a sweep of the Yankees for the first time in the Marlins’ existence.
Less than two months ago, the Marlins had plummeted as far as 16 games under .500. Remarkably, they’ve just reached the .500 mark for the first time since April 15.
After allowing a home run to Trent Grisham to lead off the contest, Cabrera retired 18 of the last 20 hitters faced, striking out seven to pick up his fifth win of the season. Since the start of May, Cabrera’s 2.32 ERA is ninth among the 72 pitchers to throw at least 80 innings in that span.
“I truly believe a home run early doesn’t completely define the game,” noted Cabrera through interpreter Luis Dorante Jr.
Wryly joking that “everything” was working on the day, particularly impressive was Cabrera’s curveball, which generated eight of the 15 total whiffs he had on the day.
Cabrera held the Yankees at bay. Meanwhile, for Luis Gil—the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, who was making his season debut—outs would be anything but easy to come by. After escaping a 24-pitch first inning without any damage, Gil was tagged for three runs in a 28-pitch bottom of the second.
In the outburst, recently recalled Troy Johnston, making his first career start at home, laced an RBI double into the gap to tie the score at 1-1. Xavier Edwards and Kyle Stowers would join in on the fun with run-scoring plate appearances of their own.
Miami’s patience paid off, forcing Gil to concede favorable counts and free passes. The right-hander would be charged with five runs over 3 ⅓ innings of work, walking four and striking out three.
Taking that 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth, it would be Stowers, the team’s lone All-Star, who broke the floodgates open when he sent his 25th home run of the season over the right field wall. Facing Brett Headrick, the home run marked Stowers first all season to come against a left-handed pitcher (and just the second of his career).
“I think Kyle should be in that conversation,” said McCullough when asked about Stowers as a potential NL MVP candidate. Through 406 plate appearances this season, Stowers owns a .948 OPS and 158 wRC+.
The Yankees’ most legitimate comeback attempt came when former Marlin Jazz Chisholm Jr., launched a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to cut the score to 6-3.
In typical Marlins do-not-quit fashion, they would tack on an insurance run in the bottom half when Jakob Marsee hit a ball over the head of Grisham for an RBI triple. Selected from Triple-A at the beginning of this series in the aftermath of the Jesús Sánchez trade, Marsee is the first player in franchise history to draw at least four walks and have four extra-base hits through his first three career games.
“Very impressive start,” noted McCullough. “The number of pitches he’s seen, the control of the zone, the discipline, and he’s getting off some good swings as well.”
Looking Ahead
The Marlins homestand continues on Monday when they welcome the Houston Astros for the first of a three-game series. Sandy Alcantara (6-9, 6.36 ERA) will continue a Marlins tenure most assumed would end at the trade deadline. Jason Alexander (1-1, 7.36 ERA) will oppose him for Houston.
First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST.