CHICAGO — In a tightly contested matchup on Saturday night, the Miami Marlins managed to clinch a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, thanks in large part to Eric Wagaman’s decisive two-run triple in the eighth inning.
The game was initially locked in a 1-1 tie until Wagaman’s crucial hit shifted the scoreboard in favor of Miami. Kyle Stowers contributed significantly to the Marlins’ offense earlier when he blasted his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh inning that brought the score to an even keel. This win marked a rare victory for the Marlins, who have struggled with only three wins in their last 13 encounters.
Meanwhile, Andrew Vaughn, who had been experiencing a slump with a .188 batting average, showed signs of resurgence by hitting his second home run in as many games, although it wasn’t enough to halt the White Sox’s recent decline, having now lost five out of their last six games.
Calvin Faucher, the second of Miami’s four relievers, took charge in the seventh inning and delivered a scoreless frame to earn his second win of the season. Jesú Tinoco was instrumental in sealing the victory, pitching a flawless ninth inning to secure his third save. The Marlins’ bullpen was particularly effective, conceding just one hit across four innings and successfully maintaining a four-hitter performance overall.
In terms of pitching prowess, Miami’s Edward Cabrera made a solid start, conceding only one run and three hits over a span of five innings. In contrast, White Sox rookie pitcher Shane Smith showed impressive form with six scoreless innings, yielding only four hits while striking out seven without issuing any walks, despite the no-decision outcome.
Jordan Leasure, Chicago’s second reliever of the night, found himself on the hook for the decisive go-ahead run after getting two outs in the pivotal eighth inning. Vaughn had brought the home crowd to their feet with his solo shot to left field in the opening frame, marking his fifth homer of the season and giving Chicago an early lead.
Stowers responded for Miami with a homer to right-center, leveling the playing field. The turning point arrived with two outs when Wagaman, having struck out twice and popped out earlier, seized his opportunity and connected with the first pitch he faced from Brandon Eisert. The ball soared to left-center, evading a diving catch by Michael A. Taylor and allowing Dane Myers and Nick Fortes to dash home for the winning runs.
On the statistical front, Smith’s commanding performance saw him lower his ERA to 2.08, yet his season record remains at 1-2. The determined right-hander has allowed 10 earned runs over 43 1/3 innings since making his major league debut.
Looking ahead, Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, with a season record of 2-4 and a 8.42 ERA, is set to face Chicago’s Sean Burke, who also holds a 2-4 record with a 4.35 ERA, in their upcoming game on Sunday.