Miami’s frustration builds in blowout loss
MIAMI — In one homestand that offered glimpses of both extremes of the major league spectrum, the kind of team everybody wants to be and the kind nobody wants to be, the Miami Marlins found one consistent result: more losses.
That’s three losses in three games over the weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the club with the best record in baseball and a legitimate World Series contender even more so this year than in recent ones.
And two losses in three games, including the 10-3 finale Wednesday, this week against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team with the worst record in baseball and one enduring a much-needed rebuild.
The Marlins, perennially occupying a purgatory between contender and rebuilder, sunk to nine games under .500, their lowest point in nearly two months. FanGraphs, the baseball analytics website, pegs their playoff chances at 2.4 percent.
“If you can't win a series against the worst team in the league,” Giancarlo Stanton said, “then, you know, there's not much going for you.”
As big-picture questions remain for the organization — the sale of the team in limbo and the trade deadline nearing — frustration inside the clubhouse is building as a result of on-field happenings.
“We haven't been playing well — all year, really,” Christian Yelich said. “It wasn't good. It wasn't a good homestand. It wasn't a good series. It wasn't a good start to the second half.”
Said manager Don Mattingly: “It’s one of those games that you’re really kind of embarrassed about. The way we played, we made mistakes that you shouldn’t make at this level. That part is tough to swallow as a manager. You’re not getting your message across from that standpoint.”
A missed cutoff throw allowed a Phillies runner to take an extra base. A Marlins runner got picked off. Prolonged innings from the bullpen, which provided little relief.
“There’s a number of things. I’m not going to call anybody out,” said Mattingly, adding he would address it with his players. “It was just a number of mistakes we made.”
Stanton and Yelich each hit solo homers. For Stanton, it was his 30th of the year, tied for the major league lead, and ninth since July 4. For Yelich, it was his ninth of the year and first since July 4.
Yelich started a pseudorally that accounted for Miami’s other run. Down 0-2 with two outs, Yelich worked an 11-pitch walk in the third inning. He moved to second on Marcell Ozuna’s single, to third on a wild pitch and to home on another wild pitch.
“There were good things that happened, but as a club you could tell we weren’t ready to play,” Mattingly said.
Right-hander Dan Straily was unusually hittable, allowing four runs in five innings. He gave up nine hits (matching his high on the season) and walked three (his first multi-walk outing in 10 games), but also struck out seven, including five in a two-inning stretch.
Philly scored twice in the first inning, on Nick Williams’ triple (his first of two) and Maikel Franco’s sacrifice fly. Cesar Hernandez (single) and Andrew Knapp (sac fly) added runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Straily said his right hand, which he bruised in his previous start, did not affect him. Mattingly noted that it was affecting him enough that the plan was for Straily to not swing while batting.
“If it was an issue, I wouldn’t have been out there,” Straily said.