Marlins swept by Rays in two-game series, have lost 16 of last 18 against Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG

Previous to beginning a two-game sequence in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Area, Miami Marlins supervisor Don Mattingly on Tuesday was requested what he thought was the largest problem of taking part in within the ballpark.

“Their membership’s most likely the largest problem,” Mattingly quipped.

He’s not improper. The Rays have been perennial playoff contenders as of late. They’ve reached the postseason every of the final three years, received the American League East every of the previous two seasons and superior to the World Sequence in 2020.

The Marlins try to be within the Rays’ place, a low-payroll workforce that’s constantly seen amongst one of many league’s finest.

The previous two video games present the Marlins nonetheless have a methods to go of their quest to catch their in-state rival.

The Rays swept the Marlins of their two-game sequence, with Miami falling 5-4 on Wednesday after opening the brief set with a 4-0 defeat on Tuesday.

Miami has now misplaced 16 of its final 18 in opposition to Tampa Bay since 2019, when the Rays’ present run of playoff appearances started.

“We’ve obtained to get higher,” Mattingly mentioned pregame Wednesday. “Their membership’s been on the rising aspect of it. We’ve been down. Hopefully we’re on the way in which up and might make it extra aggressive.”

The Marlins (18-24) briefly made it aggressive on Wednesday regardless of falling into an early gap. The Rays (26-17) scored 5 runs on Cody Poteet within the first inning on a Wander Franco RBI double, Randy Arozarena two-run double and Harold Ramirez two-run dwelling run. Poteet settled in after that, retiring eight of the ultimate 10 Rays batters he confronted earlier than the bullpen adopted with 5 scoreless innings.

Miami then obtained three of these runs again with a fourth-inning rally. Jorge Soler blasted a solo dwelling run to right-center — his team-leading ninth of the season — earlier than a Jacob Stallings double plated Avisail Garcia and Brian Anderson, each of whom hit singles.

The deficit was trimmed to 1 within the ninth when Anderson hit a leadoff single, obtained to 3rd on a two-base error on a Bryan De La Cruz groundball and scored when Miguel Rojas reached on a Wander Franco throwing error. A Garrett Cooper two-out stroll loaded the bases, however Jesus Aguilar struck out swinging to finish the sport.

The Marlins had different key possibilities to attain runs that fell brief.

Within the second, they’d runners on first and second with two outs within the prime of the second after Anderson and Jesus Sanchez walked. Rojas then hit a single to proper. Third base coach Al Pedrique stopped Anderson at third. Sanchez overran second and was tagged out attempting to get again to finish the risk.

Within the seventh, Sanchez hit a leadoff double to right-center however was stranded as the subsequent three hitters recorded outs.

And within the eighth, what seemed to be Soler’s second dwelling run of the sport that hugged the left-field foul pole was referred to as foul.

It was an improve from the Marlins’ displaying on Tuesday, once they have been shut out for the third time this season and recorded simply 5 hits, however nonetheless not sufficient to get a win in opposition to the Rays.

Accidents hampering Marlins

It’s price remembering the Marlins have been with out three of their prime place gamers each days of the Rays sequence. Jazz Chisholm Jr. rode the bench each Tuesday and Wednesday whereas coping with a left hamstring damage sustained on Sunday. Joey Wendle (proper hamstring pressure) and Jon Berti (returning to baseball form after testing optimistic for COVID-19) are on the injured record.

All three are near returning, although.

Chisholm fielded floor balls and took batting observe on Wednesday after doing neither on Tuesday. Wendle and Berti each performed in rehab assignments video games with the Single A Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday and Wednesday and might be cleared to return as early as Friday when the Marlins start a three-game sequence with the Atlanta Braves on Friday at Truist Park.

This and that

▪ The Marlins on Wednesday positioned right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender on the 15-day injured record with again stiffness and chosen the contract of utility infielder Willians Astudillo to fill Bender’s spot on the lively roster.

▪ A Max Meyer replace: The plan is for him to start throwing from flat floor Thursday. He stays on the minor-league injured record with ulnar nerve irritation.

This story was initially revealed Could 25, 2022 9:45 PM.