Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Chen dominates at home
MARLINS 2, CARDINALS 1
Barraclough struggles again, but Marlins end streak
MIAMI — Fifty years from now, baseball historians will comb through Wei-Yin Chen’s 2018 season in sheer astonishment, wondering, “How can a pitcher be so good at home yet so bad on the road?”
In nine starts away from Marlins Park, Chen is 1-6 with a 10.27 ERA — the worst of any MLB starter.
Back home, though, Chen has looked like an All-Star on the mound.
On Monday night in Miami, the lefty continued his Jekyll and Hyde season, tossing 5 2⁄3 scoreless innings to lower his home ERA to 1.94 and help the Marlins top St. Louis, 2-1.
Chen allowed just one hit and two walks, while striking out four on 91 pitches as Miami snapped a six-game losing streak.
Marlins closer Kyle Barraclough nearly coughed it up in the ninth inning, though. The 28-year-old, who had blown three consecutive saves prior to Monday night’s per- formance, lasted just 1⁄ of an in3 ning, allowing two hits, two walks and one earned run. Marlins manager Don Mattingly finally pulled the plug on Barraclough after
walking in a run with bases loaded. Javy Guerra came out of the bullpen and induced a game-ending double play to save the game.
Former Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who spent five seasons with Miami from 2013-17, made his return to South Florida after being traded to the Cardinals in the off-season. The 27-year-old went 2-for-3 on Monday night.
Starting a week-long homestand, the Marlins wasted no time in their South Florida return. After a Derek Dietrich leadoff double, Brian Anderson smacked his MLB rookieleading 53rd RBI to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
The Marlins extended the lead in the fourth as Starlin Castro demolished a 407-foot home run to left — his ninth of the season — to push Miami’s lead to 2-0.
Chen exited the game in sixth inning with two outs after allowing a walk. Elisier Hernandez came out of the bullpen and recorded the final out to keep the Cardi- nals off the board. Drew Steckenrider, who allowed two earned runs in his last relief appearance, tossed a scoreless eight inning.
Miami’s bullpen, which has struggled over the past week, rebounded in Monday’s series opener. Tayron Guerrero, who was reactivated last week after a stint on the disabled list, pitched a scoreless seventh inning to hold St. Louis at bay.