Five years ago, Pablo López turned a regular July start into a piece of baseball history.
On July 11, 2021, at loanDepot Park, the right-hander opened Miami’s 7-4 win over the Atlanta Braves by striking out the first nine hitters he saw, setting a Major League Baseball record. It happened on the one-year anniversary of his father’s death, adding another layer to a day that already stood out for López and the Marlins.
The first inning came fast. Ehire Adrianza and Freddie Freeman both struck out swinging to start the game, and Ozzie Albies followed with a seven-pitch battle before going down swinging to finish the frame. López then struck out the side in the first, and Miami’s lineup gave him immediate support when Jesús Aguilar launched a three-run homer off Ian Anderson in the bottom half.
The strikeout streak kept rolling in the second. Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia and Dansby Swanson all struck out swinging, leaving López one pitch short of an immaculate inning.
He needed only 12 pitches to get through the third, and the run continued with Guillermo Heredia and Anderson both striking out looking, while Kevan Smith fanned swinging in between. That nine-strikeout start broke the old mark of eight, which had been shared by Jim Deshaies in 1986, Jacob deGrom in 2014 and Germán Márquez in 2018.
Miami kept building from there. Sandy León drove in a run with a groundout in the third to make it 4-0, and when Atlanta finally put the ball in play in the fourth, Adrianza grounded out to end the streak.
The Braves then got on the board with RBI singles from Albies and Arcia, but the Marlins answered right back. In the bottom of the fourth, Garrett Cooper doubled in a run and Aguilar followed with an RBI single to push the lead back to four at 6-2.
López finished six innings and gave up three runs on five hits and two walks. He didn’t strike out another batter after the third inning.
Atlanta added more power later, with Swanson homering off López with two outs in the sixth and then again off Anthony Bender in the ninth for a second solo shot. Miami’s final run came in the sixth when Miguel Rojas singled in Jesús Sánchez.
Sánchez and Rojas each had three of Miami’s 12 hits. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Aguilar added two hits apiece, and Aguilar drove in four runs.
But the day belonged to López, who became the first pitcher in baseball history to open a game with nine straight strikeouts the first time through the order.
In Other News...
Marlins Face A Tough Heriberto Hernndez Deadline Decision
Heriberto Hernndez has given the Marlins something useful to think about over the last stretch, even as the losses keep piling up around him. Since his May 7 recall, the outfielder has been one of the few bright spots in a lineup that still has plenty of holes, and his recent surge has only sharpened the question of whether Miami should treat him as part of the next wave or as one of the clearer chips it can move before the deadline.
The appeal for other clubs is obvious enough: Hernndez is still inexpensive, not yet arbitration-eligible and under control for years to come, which makes him more than a rental-type target. Miami also has to weigh its own internal picture, with a Triple-A bat waiting in the wings and a front office that has to decide whether Hernndezs value is higher in the standings, in the system or in a trade return that could help address more than one need at once. [Read more 🡒]
Former Marlins Arm Faces Brutal New Setback With Braves
Elieser Hernandezs latest stop with the Braves got off to a rough start, and it was over almost as quickly as it began. The former Marlins right-hander had signed a minor league deal with Atlanta last offseason, then worked his way back to the majors after spending time in South Koreas KBO and returning to MLB in 2024.
Atlanta designated Hernandez for assignment after his first game with the club and brought up left-hander Connor Thomas from Triple-A Gwinnett in the corresponding move. For a pitcher trying to reestablish himself after a long and winding path back, it was another harsh reminder of how thin the margin can be once a team starts shuffling the back end of its staff. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Suddenly Face A Stunning Luis Castillo Deadline Decision
Seattles deadline math is starting to get complicated, and Luis Castillo has become one of the names sitting right in the middle of it. The Mariners are looking for ways to shore up both the bullpen and the offense, which is why any discussion around a potential Castillo move carries real weight. Even with his contract control and track record, the right-handers current form has made him part of a broader conversation about how aggressive Seattle wants to be before the deadline.
For Miami, the idea is intriguing because the Marlins have pushed themselves into the NL East race and could be tempted to add a proven starter if the market breaks their way. A deal like that would not just be about Castillos name value, either, since the return could shape what Seattle does next and what kind of help it can land in the final days before the deadline. The uncertainty around the package is part of what makes this one worth watching, because the Mariners may be weighing a major rotation decision against the chance to fill multiple needs at once. [Read more 🡒]