Aside from Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins haven’t been able to rely on any of their other starting pitchers to give them much lately.
Manager Clayton McCullough has been forced to turn to his bullpen far earlier than he’d like, and Tuesday night was no different with Adam Mazur on the mound.
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The rookie right-hander struggled from the outset, never found a rhythm, and when he faltered again in the fifth inning, McCullough had to make the move —extending a pattern that has taken a heavy toll on Miami’s relievers this month.
The Marlins dropped another one Tuesday at loanDepot park, losing to the Nationals 7-5 for their seventh defeat in eight games.
The Marlins scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Victor Mesa Jr. stroked a two-run double to narrow the deficit and Xavier Edwards then drove in another run with an infield single.
Miami Marlins outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. (10) reacts to scoring a run during the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in Miami, Fla.
Mazur was tagged for six runs — four earned — on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked three, struck out one, and needed 96 pitches to get that far.
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“I thought location was pretty good. I just ran into some unfortunate luck in the beginning there,” Mazur said. “It was pretty similar to last time where there some unfortunate base hits and they took advantage of it.”
The Nationals ambushed Mazur to start the game. CJ Abrams doubled to right field, James Wood singled, and Josh Bell crushed a three-run homer 409 feet to right. It was the third homer in two games for the former Marlin.
Joey Wiemer countered with a homer to left off Nats starter Mitchell Parker in the second inning to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Miami Marlins batter Joey Wiemer (41) homers on a fly ball to left field during the second inning of an MLB game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in Miami, Fla.
The visitors tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a fielder’s choice groundout and a sacrifice fly. Then in the fifth, Daylen Lile took Mazur deep to right to give the Nats a 6-1 lead. Mazur exited after surrendering back-to-back singles with one out.
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Valente Bellozo exited Tuesday’s game with right triceps tightness after pitching two scoreless innings. “It didn’t feel right for him. Smart on his part not wanting to continue,” McCullough said.
STOWERS SUFFERS NEW INJURY
Outfielder Kyle Stowers strained his right oblique while rehabbing his left side, McCullough said Tuesday. The injury occurred on what Stowers described as a “weird swing” during his first at-bat with Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, prompting Stowers’ removal from the rehab assignment and return to Miami for further evaluation.
“Halt in the rehab right now. I think it will take a couple of days to see what that down time potentially looks like moving forward,” McCullough said. “We will continue to see how it continues to progress, see how he feels. We’re certainly not going to push the envelope with Kyle, with where we’re at.
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“You’re not always sure with how some of these things play out,” he added. “Most important, we’re just trying to get him healthy — whether that’s to play at the end of this year, or to ensure he goes into the offseason in a good spot.”
Stowers said he was “a little bit in disbelief” from the tightness he felt in his rib area the day after suffering the injury.
“First and foremost, as I’ve had a couple of days to process it, it’s another opportunity for me to lean on God,” Stowers said. “Even though the last month-plus has not gone how I would have anticipated it to go, I’m just trying to lean into whatever God has and trust in his plan for my life and be grateful for another opportunity to grow.
“But if I’m being honest with you, it’s really hard. I care a lot. Not what I wanted to happen. I definitely had some emotional conversations with my wife, my mom and my agent that were very emotional for me. I don’t know what the rest of the season is going to look like. It’s kind of the a day-to-day thing right now.”
Marlins field coordinator Aaron “Lenny” Leanhardt was named manager of the Mesa Solar Sox for the 2025 Arizona Fall League.