Rays bash 3 HRs — including an inside-the-park job
Kevin Kiermaier hit the first pitch Pablo Lopez threw and sent it to center field. Jesus Sanchez, attempting to be aggressive and record the out, made a quick sprint and dove trying to catch the sinking line drive.
Sanchez was in the right position, but his glove missed the ball, which rolled to the wall at Tropicana Field as Kiermaier raced around the basepaths for an inside-thepark home run.
One pitch in, and the Marlins were already playing from behind. It remained that way throughout the night as they fell 4-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a twogame series. Miami is 18-23, while Tampa Bay improves to 25-17. This is the third time the Marlins have been shut out this season.
Lopez overall gave up four runs on nine hits while striking out eight over eight innings. All of the runs came via home run: The Kiermaier insidethe-parker, a solo home run to former Marlin Harold Ramirez in the second and a two-run shot to Ji-Man Choi in the sixth.
Prior to Tuesday, Lopez had given up just two home runs through 46 innings all season.
Lopez’s season ERA has increased by nearly a full run over his past two starts — from 1.05 to 2.04 — after giving up seven runs over his last 9 1⁄3 innings.
Miami’s offense, meanwhile, couldn’t find an answer against Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan, who struck out nine and allowed just four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings.
Their best chance against McClanahan came in his sixth and final inning. Garrett Cooper, batting in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career, opened the inning with a single, moved to second on a Jesus Aguilar single and then reached third when Jorge Soler hit into a double play.
A McClanahan fastball to Avisail Garcia then went wild to the backstop. Cooper started to take off for home, then retreated when the ball bounced back toward home plate, then took off again when the ball skipped past Rays catcher Mike Zunino and
McClanahan slipped. Tampa Bay third baseman Isaac Paredes scooped up the ball and made the throw to Zunino at home plate in time to tag Cooper for the inning-ending out.
The series concludes Tuesday, with Cody Poteet (0-0, 0.78 ERA) on the mound for the Marlins against the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen (4-1, 2.33 ERA).
INJURY UPDATES
Neither shortstop Miguel Rojas (left calf) nor second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left hamstring) started on Tuesday. Rojas said pregame that he is feeling fine and anticipates being back in the lineup sooner than later. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Chisholm received treatment on Tuesday and that the club would re-evaluate him before Wednesday’s series finale.
Jon Berti (recovering from COVID-19) and Joey Wendle (right hamstring strain) began a rehab assignment with Single A Jupiter on Tuesday. Berti went 1 for 3 with a double while playing six innings of defense at second base. Wendle went 1 for 4 with a single and a run scored while playing seven innings of defense at third base.
Jesus Luzardo (left forearm strain) did not travel with the Marlins and is continuing his rehab process in Miami. He has not begun throwing yet.