Pittsburgh has lost two straight after winning six of its previous seven.
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. The Marlins scored twice in the eighth inning and once in the ninth in Friday’s 6-5 victory at the Pittsburgh Pirates, who look to rebound Saturday night in the second of a three-game series. Fernandy Rodney pitched a ideal ninth.
“It’s a tough decision”, Mattingly said. Rodney then got Andrew McCutchen to bounce into a game-ending double play.
Scruggs, who went 1 for 3 in his season debut with the Marlins on Friday, had not homered in 65 plate appearances with Miami and St. Louis spanning three seasons. After Miguel Rojas singled to left, Phelps reached on what originally was a putout from right fielder Gregory Polanco to first, but a review ruled Phelps safe.
Feliz felt a mechanical problem with his delivery led to his erratic outing. “It threw me off a little bit”. Christian Yelich holds 139 hits with 64 runs and 71 RBI. In that game, a 6-3 loss, he had a rough patch in the first inning.
Then, in the top of the seventh, Yelich gave the Marlins back the lead when he hit a solo shot to left field on the first pitch with two-outs. After giving up a single to the game’s first hitter, Josh Harrison – who was erased by a double play – Phelps set down 13 batters in a row.
Marte had three hits. He is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA against the Pirates in four career games, including two starts.
“Coming to Pittsburgh, where they’re all die-hard Pirates fans, they can put on Marlins stuff for one night and cheer me on”, Phelps said.
Pirates starter Gerrit Cole gave up three runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Pirates made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning – Miami used three pitchers in just that half inning. “There were a few mistakes but some weird luck, too”.
The Marlins (63-59) won the game, 6-5.
Backing up Phelps on the offense was newcomer Xavier Scruggs.
After 169 career minor league home runs, the slugging first baseman finally got his first in the Major Leagues at age 28. The Marlins have been platooning INF/OF Derek Dietrich and INF Chris Johnson at first.
Advertisement
Phelps is 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA in three outings since being moved into the rotation from the bullpen.
