After rallying multiple times on Saturday and securing their second walk-off win in three games, the Miami Marlins are aiming to clinch their first series victory of the season when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday afternoon.
Last season, the Marlins had a tough start, losing their first nine games, taking 13 contests to grab their second win and 15 games to reach three wins.
On Saturday, the Marlins triumphed 5-4 when Dane Myers delivered a walk-off single in the 12th inning off Tim Mayza, Pittsburgh’s sixth pitcher of the day. Myers’ clutch hit came after a key defensive play in right field, where he threw out Tommy Pham at the plate on a single by Bryan Reynolds in the top of the 12th.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Myers, 29, said in his post-game radio interview. “Hitting a walk-off in the big leagues is cool. It’s a privilege to be playing at this level, and something like that is pretty special.”
Myers had three hits on Saturday and also scored on a tying double by Derek Hill in the sixth inning. That double was one of four occasions the Marlins tied the game.
In Thursday’s season opener, the Marlins overcame a two-run deficit by scoring three times in the final two innings to win 5-4 on a walk-off single by Kyle Stowers, who had three hits on Saturday as well.
While the Marlins are showing resilience in their comeback efforts, the Pirates are struggling with mistakes and a lack of clutch hitting.
A defensive error by Oneil Cruz on a single by Jonah Bride set up Myers’ game-winning hit, and the Pirates finished 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position, failing to capitalize on six stolen bases.
“Our outfield defense needs to improve,” manager Derek Shelton stated. “We’ve seen it in the first few games, especially over the first three games.”
Pittsburgh struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-9 in that situation during Thursday’s game, where they blew a two-run lead in the late innings. So far, they are 7-for-35 with runners in scoring position, including their 4-3 win on Friday.
On Saturday, Oneil Cruz had a notable performance, walking four times and stealing two bases, while Joey Bart contributed three of Pittsburgh’s nine hits.
Right-hander Max Meyer is set to begin what the Marlins hope will be his first full season after being their 2020 first-round draft pick. He made two starts and threw six innings in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Meyer made three starts in April 2024 before being sent back to the minors to monitor his workload.
After returning, he made eight more starts but posted a 7.20 ERA in that stretch and was shut down in September due to bursitis in his right shoulder. Meyer finished with a 3-5 record and a 5.68 ERA.
Meyer has not faced the Pirates yet.
Andrew Heaney will make his debut with his sixth team after signing a one-year deal with the Pirates on February 22. The left-hander spent the past two seasons with the Texas Rangers, posting a 15-20 record and a 4.22 ERA in 66 appearances (59 starts). He went 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA last season.
Heaney was the Marlins’ first-round pick in 2012 and was 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA in seven games (five starts) for Miami in 2014 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who then dealt him to the Los Angeles Angels in December 2014.
The left-hander is 2-0 with two scoreless starts against the Marlins, totaling 11 2/3 innings.
Leave a Reply