MIAMI — It felt like deja vu.
Here the Miami Marlins were on Tuesday, with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, down five runs and with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the plate.
The final outcome in the seventh inning this time around was the same as it was on Monday — four runs scored after a Chisholm double and Jesus Aguilar single — even though the route to getting there had a little more contention to it.
The final result was the same, too, with the Marlins losing, 5-4, to the Arizona Diamondbacks at loanDepot park.
But the defeat, Miami’s third consecutive loss to fall to 12-11, didn’t come without intrigue — and some controversy.
The Marlins’ big moment on Tuesday, just like Monday, began when Chisholm stepped into the batter’s box in the seventh inning. The bases were loaded after Garrett Cooper walked, Brian Anderson was hit by a pitch and Jacob Stallings walked.
On a 2-2 count, Chisholm lined a ball down the right-field line that was initially ruled foul but was then deemed fair after a video review, resulting in a two-run double. Aguilar then hit a single to left field to drive in the other two runs.
But like Tuesday, that’s where Miami’s offensive production ended. Miguel Rojas grounded out to end the seventh inning and Miami was held scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.
Shaky starts
The Marlins’ starting rotation was one of its biggest strengths over the first month of the season.
That has been far from the case in the three games Miami has played since the calendar flipped to May.
The trend continued Tuesday as Trevor Rogers gave up five runs and lasted just 4 1/3 innings.
Rogers gave up leadoff home runs to Christian Walker in the second inning and Pavin Smith in the third before being charged with three runs while recording just one out in the fifth.
The lefty’s outing following slugging performances by Sandy Alcantara against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday (five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings) and Pablo Lopez against the Diamondbacks on Monday (four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings).
Put the three together, and that’s 14 earned runs allowed by Miami’s top three starting pitchers in 14 2/3 innings — or an 8.59 ERA — over the Marlins’ last three games.
It’s a far cry from what the group did in April — Miami starting pitchers collectively had a 3.03 ERA over the first month of the season, the seventh-best mark in the league.
Wendle sits again
Marlins infielder Joey Wendle sat for a second consecutive game while he deals with hamstring soreness. The injury is minor and it is unlikely it will result in an injured list stint.
“I don’t want to end up losing him over something that we could avoid,” manager Don Mattingly said. “So I want to be careful with him today. We’ll see what tomorrow looks like.”
