Tyler Phillips, the Marlins' starting pitcher, has been a bit of a rollercoaster this season. In his first five starts, he posted a 4.94 ERA, with most of the damage coming from a rough outing against the Phillies on June 16, where he allowed eight runs over just four innings.
But on Sunday, we saw the high side of Phillips' potential. Channeling his inner Sandy Alcantara, Phillips delivered a standout performance, striking out just one batter over a season-high 7 ⅓ innings, allowing only one run.
This feat made him the first Marlin since Henderson Alvarez in 2013 to record an out in the eighth inning with one or fewer strikeouts. His lone strikeout victim?
None other than NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner JJ Wetherholt.
"He was outstanding today...was able to economically get through innings," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough remarked, highlighting Phillips' efficiency on the mound.
Despite Phillips' stellar effort, the Marlins couldn't capitalize, managing only a single run in their 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. This defeat snapped their four-game winning streak, leaving them at 44-40 and still in the playoff hunt.
Phillips' only blemish came early, courtesy of a two-run homer by rookie left fielder Bryan Torres. Meanwhile, the Marlins' bats were quiet against Kyle Leahy, who held them hitless through four innings.
The breakthrough came in the fifth when Owen Caissie smashed a leadoff double, followed by Grant Pauley's second double in as many days to bring Caissie home. However, Cardinal pitching tightened up, allowing just two more Marlins to reach base.
In a move that left some fans scratching their heads, McCullough made a couple of strategic changes, opting for the platoon advantage. He swapped out Caissie and Pauley for pinch-hitters Esteury Ruiz and Leo Jiménez, respectively.
This was part of a sequence where the Marlins used four consecutive pinch-hitters, who collectively went 1-for-4. Jiménez's seventh-inning seeing-eye single was the only hit, but it didn't change the outcome.
While a road series win is commendable, the Marlins might be leaving town with a sense of what could have been, having held the opposition to just three runs over the weekend yet falling short of a sweep.
Looking ahead, the Marlins are set to take on the Colorado Rockies in a four-game series, hoping to ride a wave of momentum in the Mile High City. Sandy Alcantara, now the Marlins' all-time strikeout leader, will start the series opener.
He'll face off against Sean Sullivan, who's still finding his footing in the big leagues with a 0-2 record and an 8.25 ERA. First pitch from Coors Field is scheduled for 8:40 EST/6:40 MDT.
In Other News...
Janson Junks Return Just Hit A New Snag For The Marlins
Janson Junks rehab outing Thursday was supposed to be another step toward getting back into the Marlins rotation picture, but it turned into a reminder of how quickly a return can go sideways. Working for Triple-A Jacksonville while recovering from right shin bone inflammation, Junk got through 2 2/3 innings and showed some of the crispness Miami was hoping to see, even as the assignment remained all about building back toward game readiness.
Instead, the latest concern came from a line drive that struck him in the left wrist and forced him out early. There was no immediate update afterward, leaving the Marlins with another layer of uncertainty around a pitcher who had only just begun his comeback and was trying to reinsert himself into a staff that has already been piecing together innings behind Sandy Alcantara, Eury Prez and Max Meyer. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Are Suddenly Facing A Deadline Call Fans Know Too Well
With the Marlins sitting in the National League Wild Card mix at 44-40, the front office has reached the familiar midseason question of whether to stay patient or push in a little harder before the trade deadline. Miami has enough life in the standings to justify a look around, and enough obvious holes to make the exercise worthwhile, especially at third base and in the pitching mix.
The search is already centering on veteran help, with the kind of names that fit different needs depending on how aggressively the Marlins want to shop. Some options would stabilize the infield, while others would add swing-and-miss arms or give the club another layer of depth for the stretch run, but the challenge is always the same for Miami: finding the right upgrade without paying for a short-term fix that does not match the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Are Building Real June Momentum With One Frustrating Catch
The Marlins have spent June trying to turn good days into something steadier, and last week offered another sign that the club is moving in the right direction. Miami went 4-2, took series from the Rangers and Cardinals, and got the sort of pitching performance every team wants to build around when Max Meyer worked seven shutout innings to steady the staff.
There is still a little frustration tucked into the success, though, because the week was good enough to feel even better. Miami opened the Cardinals set with two wins before dropping the finale, and after a Sunday loss, the club now moves into a four-game series against Colorado with Sandy Alcantara lined up for the opener. The results are adding up, but the Marlins are still looking for the kind of complete week that leaves no nagging what-ifs behind. [Read more 🡒]