Despite Marlins loss to Red Sox, Brazoban delivers key performance after Rogers’ short start

There wasn’t much to write home about in the Miami Marlins’ 7-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. After tallying a run in the first inning, Miami’s bats seemingly went cold, unable to muster another run until the ninth inning. Despite getting nine hits, the Marlins (30-56) could never build momentum to take them to put themselves in the driver’s seat.

In addition, starting pitcher Trevor Rogers had his first rough outing in a while. Rogers had a solid month of June, posting a 3.00 ERA with opponents only batting .222 against him. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old pitcher had trouble keeping the Red Sox (46-39) at bay Wednesday, with Boston’s hitters tallying five hits, three walks and two runs through three innings and putting together long at-bats to elevate his pitch count.

“I actually thought it was maybe his best stuff of the year,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker post-game. “Unfortunately, the line definitely doesn’t show that.”

“It’s probably the best I felt all year stuff-wise. My body felt good and the velocity was there,” Rogers added. “It just didn’t go my way today. [There were] a lot of cheap infield hits.”

The most devastating hit came from Rafael Devers, who after a nine-pitch at-bat, grounded a ball to Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards. The ball ricocheted off Edwards glove and two runners scored to put the Sox on top 2-1.

“It seemed I was doing a good job getting to two strikes and then, you know, I tried to get a ground ball and it was a foul ball,” Rogers said. “They’re doing it three or four times per at-bat, which racked up the pitch count pretty quick.”

After tallying 85 pitches, Schumaker called on Huascar Brazoban from the bullpen.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Brazoban, who missed the start of the season after visa issues prevented him from entering the United States. The Dominican pitcher saw his first action in June, and has been a dependable arm in the bullpen for the Marlins so far this season. While his 4.50 ERA isn’t anything to brag about at first glance, half of his earned runs came in one outing against the Royals.

Certainly it seems the missed time at the beginning of the year has helped make the 34-year old pitcher eager to play when he can.

In early June, the 34-year-old pitched over three innings against Cleveland and Washington within a week’s span with just one earned run allowed.

On Wednesday, the Dominican product pitched three shutout innings against the Red Sox to keep the Marlins within a run through six innings before Boston tacked on an insurance run in the seventh and scored four runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Utilizing a mix of fastball, cutter and sinker, Brazoban was able to limit damage through timely strikeouts and ground balls.

Even in the sixth inning, after Ceddanne Rafaela hit a triple with one out, Brazobán struck out centerfielder Jarren Duran and forced infielder Rob Reefsnyder into a 5-3 ground out to end the inning unscathed.

“He threw 30 pitches two days ago, so it wasn’t the most ideal situation for him,” Schumaker said. “But you’ll never hear him complain once. He’s always available and he’s got really good stuff. When he gets in jams, he can get out of it because of the strikeouts and he’s on the ground a lot.”

Brazoban’s performance could help vault his playing time and status within the Marlins bullpen, which has been the backbone of the team’s pitching this season.

“The bullpen has been the foundation for us all year and [they] take on a lot of innings,” Rogers said. “That was one of the first guys who did a good job to pick me up today.”

This and that

▪ Infielder Otto Lopez was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game after feeling tightness in his back while working out pregame Tuesday. Vidal Brujan started at second base both Tuesday and Wednesday in Lopez’s absence.

▪ The Marlins on Wednesday optioned right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo to Triple A Jacksonville and recalled right-handed pitcher Anthony Maldonado to add an extra arm to a taxed bullpen. Miami used both Declan Cronin and JT Chargois for two innings apiece on Tuesday and both were going to be unavailable to pitch Wednesday, leaving Brazoban as the Marlins’ only option to pitch multiple innings on Wednesday if not for the move.

▪ Outfielder Nick Gordon (illness) was not at the ballpark Wednesday and did not play for a third consecutive game.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Bryan Hoeing (left hamstring) threw a side session on Wednesday and is trending toward being activated from the injured list at some point this homestand.