Marlins swept handily in divisional litmus test

ATLANTA — The Marlins entered the weekend considerably downplaying the significance of their three-game collection in opposition to the Braves.

Each arrived at Truist Park as the 2 hottest golf equipment within the Majors during the last month-plus. For years, Miami has been bullied by “large brother” Atlanta, the gold customary within the Nationwide League East — if not all the NL. Now was the time to show progress had been made and the hole had closed.

That didn’t occur in Sunday afternoon’s 6-3 lossas Miami was swept for simply the second time this season — each to Atlanta. The groups received’t meet once more till mid-September in Miami.

“That is previous already,” mentioned Luis Arraezwho produced a pair of RBI hits on Sunday however noticed his average drop to .389 on the six-game journey by Boston and Atlanta. “They performed actually good baseball. Tomorrow’s one other day, after which we simply must proceed to play laborious.”

Listed below are a few of the season numbers in opposition to the Braves in comparison with everybody else:

• 1-9 file vs. 47-28 file

• -54 run differential vs. +32 run differential

• 30 HR in 84 innings vs. 61 HR in 671 2/3 innings

Miami obtained off to a greater begin than the earlier two video games, when the pitching surrendered 11 mixed runs within the first inning. Ace Sandy Alcantara escaped a bases-loaded jam when Marcell Ozuna grounded out to 3rd.

And although All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on April 24 in opposition to the Marlins, they managed 5 hits by two frames and took a 2-0 lead within the second. However Alcantara surrendered a solo homer to All-Star Orlando Arcia within the backside half of the body, and the Braves uncovered Alcantara’s season-long weak spot by wreaking havoc on the basepaths within the go-ahead three-run fifth.

Michael Harris II singled with one out, stole and superior to 3rd on a throwing error. Harris then scored on a wild pitch. All-Star Ronald Acuña Jr. adopted with a stroll and All-Star Ozzie Albies belted the go-ahead two-run homer simply over the right-field wall. Later with Miami trailing 4-3 within the eighth, lefty Andrew Nardi permitted a two-run homer to Travis d’Arnaud that put the sport out of attain.

“Since day 1 they have been aggressive in opposition to us, in opposition to all pitchers, however we all know it,” mentioned Alcantara, who has a 5.17 ERA in three begins vs. Atlanta in 2023. “We’ve simply obtained to maintain constructive, get to Miami tonight, attempt to not give it some thought, attempt to win the following couple video games that we have now earlier than the break.”

Sunday’s collection finale might need lingering results, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. was taken out of the sport with left oblique soreness he sustained on a sixth-inning strikeout. In a one-run ballgame, Yuli Gurriel pinch-hit for the 2022 All-Star, who was sidelined for six weeks with turf toe.

Since his return on Tuesday, Chisholm had gone 8-for-23 (.348) with 4 extra-base hits and 5 RBIs. He could must bear testing on Monday when the membership is again in Miami. If sidelined, the Marlins will miss him most on offense and on the bases.

“It is robust, however that is what we have got to study from,” mentioned Chisholm, who mentioned he was nonetheless sore however feeling higher after the sport. “We realized that we have to return right here and we have got to combat each single at-bat. Each pitch we throw, each at-bat we’re within the field, each pitch that comes in direction of us, we have got to be able to combat.

“These guys are actually good right here, and we knew that earlier than we obtained right here, however they’re actually scorching proper now. We have simply obtained to discover a solution to carry on going and battle in opposition to them. We all know they’re the perfect crew within the league, however we might be higher and we will beat them.”

Whereas the final sentiment was disappointment, so was the significance of getting a short-term reminiscence. The Marlins will host the Cardinals and Phillies for seven video games, starting on Monday, to shut out the primary half.

“I feel it simply reveals that we have now to play higher baseball to compete in opposition to a crew like that,” supervisor Skip Schumaker mentioned. “[We] obtained uncovered on the bases, we made baserunning errors, a few defensive miscues, and we simply could not catch up after a few errors. And that is going to occur in opposition to actually good groups. We obtained our butt kicked this weekend for positive, however general, good highway journey, and searching ahead to getting again residence.”