Marlins make lone run hold up, hand Giants’ Ray his first loss of the season

There was Dane Myers’ spectacular leaping catch crashing into the wall in center field in the seventh inning.

And Heriberto Hernández skying at the fence in left field in the fourth to rob a two-run homer.

Javier Sanoja stroking a single to center with two outs in the second inning to score the game’s only run.

Edward Cabrera surviving a 29-pitch first inning unscathed, and then pitching masterfully as he did all May for the Miami Marlins.

And relievers Ronny Henriquez, Anthony Bender and Calvin Faucher combining to keep San Francisco from crossing home plate.

The Marlins beat the Giants 1-0 on Saturday at loanDepot park, winning with a collection of key contributions from different sources.

“To win a lot of games and to win series, you have to be able to do it in a variety of ways,” said Marlins’ manager Clayton McCullough. “You’re not always going to score a bunch of runs. It’s learning how to find different ways to win games.”

Saturday, they handed Giants starter Robbie Ray (7-1) his first loss despite getting just two hits off him — and three for the game.

The Marlins scored in the second after Myers and Fortes drew back-to-back walks. The Giants, meanwhile, left 11 runners on base, including three in the first inning as Cabrera escaped a bases-loaded, one out jam by striking out Willy Adames swinging with a 95-mph changeup and Mike Yastrzemski looking with a 98-mph sinker.

“It was a really long first inning for me,” Cabrera said via team interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “After I got the third out, what I was thinking is once I get back, I’ve got to attack. It doesn’t matter if they hit me. I just got to go out there, attack and get as many outs as I can.”

With two outs and a runner on in the fourth, Tyler Fitzgerald smacked a fastball from Cabrera to left field. Hernandez, playing in his second MLB game, raced back, leaped at the fence with his blue glove stretched high and secured the catch. Cabrera raised both of his arms in exultation.

“It’s very exciting when you get to have a situation like that on the mound,” Cabrera said. “I give all the credit in the world. I tip my hat. It was incredible just to see he was able to do something like that.”

“I was preparing every single pitch in that at-bat, knowing that he’s a righty, that he has strength in that direction,” Hernández said via Dorante Jr. “When I saw the ball, I just turned really fast and started running because I knew the ball was carrying a lot.

Added Hernandez: “I respect a lot the pitcher when the pitcher is grinding on the mound. I think that’s the least I could do, just run hard and try to do the best I could.”

Cabrera pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits while striking out five and walking three. In five starts in May, he allowed six earned runs in 27 innings, as well as 24 hits. He struck out 28 and walked eight.

“He’s on a great run right now where he’s on the attack,” McCullough said. “He’s got a lot of confidence in his stuff and ability to go attack the strike zone with multiple offerings. And then the times when he’s had his back against the wall…he just buckles down and continues to pound it. We’re continuing to see a maturing and learning how to navigate through innings.”

At the top of the seventh, McCullough made three defensive switches, including moving Myers from right field to center. Jung Hoo Lee belted a changeup from Henriquez and Myers, in his second game back from the 10-day injured list (right oblique strain), jumped and snagged the ball. Myers held on despite the hard collision and, while seated on the dirt, held up the ball with his right hand as Stowers raised both arms in celebration a few yards from him.

“I think Dane’s was one of the best catches I’ve ever seen,” catcher Nick Fortes told Marlins Radio Network afterward.

Myers stayed in the game and batted in the bottom of the seventh.

“He banged [the wall] pretty good,” McCullough said. “He said he was OK. He got checked out and he was fine. Tomorrow, he might be a little sore. He had some adrenaline going today.”

▪ Xavier Edwards was reinstated from the 10-day injured list, pinch-hit in the eighth and played second base in the ninth. He will start at second on Sunday, McCullough said. Edwards missed 13 games because of a left mid-back strain. In a corresponding roster move Saturday, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. was optioned to Triple A Jacksonville.

▪ Jack Winkler started at second base Saturday, becoming the ninth Marlins player to make his MLB debut this season — the second most in the majors behind the Athletics (10). He was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts and committed an error in the fourth inning.

Before the game, Winkler said, he was “more excited than nervous. Just ready to go.”

McCullough said, “We believe anybody we have on our roster here can contribute and help us win, and Wink is a very good defender that has the ability to play all over. For us as a staff, it’s been cool to witness a lot of firsts for so many players this year.”

Winkler and Hernández were selected from Jacksonville before the series opener Friday.

▪ Right-handed reliever Declan Cronin returned from rehab, was reinstated from the 15-day injured list, and optioned to Jacksonville. He pitched one scoreless inning (no hits, one walk) in a rehab appearance Friday.

▪ Sanoja started in center field for the second time this season and slid over to left at the top of the seventh inning. His other starts have been at second base (15), left field (eight) and shortstop (seven). McCullough said Sanoja’s “ready for whatever’s asked of him” and his versatility is a reason he’s “so valuable for us.”

Added McCullough: “A guy like Javi can carve out a really nice career because it’s a really nice luxury for myself to have someone you feel confident to be able to plug in so many places.”

Marlins make lone run hold up, hand Giants’ Ray his first loss of the season

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