Kyle Stowers homered, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 2-0 win over the Mariners on Wednesday night.
Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards each went 2-for-4 to further power Miami’s offense, which totaled eight hits, including one triple and three doubles.
Reliever-turned-starter Tyler Phillips (2-3) earned the win, pitching five scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed four hits and two walks while fanning three Seattle batters.
Miami’s bullpen did the rest as left-hander Cade Gibson pitched two innings, and right-handers Michael Petersen and Pete Fairbanks tossed one inning each. Fairbanks earned his 13th save of the season.
Seattle starter George Kirby (7-8) took the loss despite turning in a quality start. The right-hander struck out seven in six innings, allowing eight hits, no walks and two runs.
Marlins rookie right fielder Owen Caissie was removed from the game in the first inning due to right calf tightness. Caissie got hurt on his 24th birthday.
Miami opened the scoring on the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning as Stowers jumped on a center-cut, 83-mph knuckle-curve for a 416-foot homer to center.
The Marlins extended their lead to 2-0 in the third as Lopez hit a two-out single and Edwards followed with an RBI triple down the right field line.
Miami nearly padded their lead in the fifth as Lopez doubled with two outs before trying to score on Edwards’ single. However, Mariners center fielder Victor Robles charged the ball and threw a one-hop bullet to the plate. Catcher Cal Raleigh backhanded a short hop on the first base side of the plate before making the tag on a bang-bang play.
Seattle threatened in the ninth against Fairbanks as Josh Naylor singled and reached third with two outs. But Fairbanks struck out Cole Young looking at a 98-mph fastball that appeared to miss the zone.
The Marlins will go for a three-game sweep on Thursday, starting Janson Junk (3-5, 4.60 ERA). Junk, who has not pitched in the majors since May 25 because of a shin issue, will be coming off the 15-day injured list.
Seattle will start fellow right-hander Bryce Miller (4-2, 1.71). Miller, who started the season on the injured list, has made nine starts, posting 12.4 strikeouts per every walk.
–Field Level Media
