For the fourth time this season, the Marlins surrendered double-digit runs.
MIAMI, FL—For the fourth time this season, the Miami Marlins have surrendered double-digit runs, falling to the Arizona Diamondbacks by a final score of 10-4.
Starting pitcher Connor Gillispie struggled on Tuesday, going five innings, allowing eight runs off of eight hits (two home runs), walking two and striking out six. The Diamondbacks put up four runs in the top of the second inning. Corbin Carroll drove in the first run of the game on an RBI double and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo took Gillispie deep for a three-run shot to the left field second deck. Former Marlins prospect Josh Naylor hit his second home run of the season in the third inning, extending the Diamondbacks lead, 5-1.
Gillispie would go on to retire nine in a row until the top of the sixth inning when he surrendered back-to-back base hits to Lourdes Gurriel and Eugenio Suárez. Catcher Gabriel Moreno drove in Gurriel on an RBI single, putting the Diamondbacks up 6-1 when Marlins manager Clayton McCullough took the righty out.
“Little bit of a mixed bag,” said manager Clayton McCullough. “I think he looked at probably the one mistake with Perdomo, just didn’t get a cutter where he was hoping to get it with two outs. Some traffic on second and he gives up the home run. Then I thought he really settled in well and threw the ball very nicely into the sixth. He may have wanted a pitch or two back.”
McCullough deployed George Soriano out of the Marlins bullpen and after former Marlin Garrett Hampson reached first on a fielder’s choice, Corbin Carroll took Soriano deep for his third career grand slam, essentially putting the nail in the coffin as the Diamondbacks increased their lead to 10-1.
Jesús Sánchez, who made his season debut, went 1-for-4 with a walk while starting in center field. ” I thought he looked great,” said McCullough. “Bat speed was there, hard contact the majority of his plate appearances. I thought he tracked the ball really well. Last at-bat, he got a walk there against the lefty, which was a good sign.”
Veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly entered the night with.a 7.20 ERA, but enjoyed his best start of the season in Miami. He struck out nine over six innings with only one run allowed.
The Marlins made some noise in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring two runs to make it a 10-3 game, but with the bases loaded, Eric Wagaman struck out swinging.
In the ninth, Griffin Conine crushed a 117.4 mph double, easily the hardest hit of his MLB career. He came around to score on a Graham Pauley sac fly.
The Marlins fell to 8-8 on the season. They will look to get back over .500 on Wednesday as Max Meyer will make his fourth start of the season at 6:40 pm.