Marlins Lose Series Finale to Rays

---

TAMPA, FL – After a lengthy 3:10 hour game, Sunday afternoon’s baseball game could’ve gone to either team to win this series. This game between the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays was far from a score fest. The Marlins had a bullpen day and would go on to lose the series finale to the Rays.

Bullpen day for the Marlins

Clayton McCullough revealed in his postgame conference last night that Anthony Veneziano would be the starter. That meant that today would be a bullpen day. Veneziano was exceptional today. In two innings of workload, the left-hander totaled 27 strikes out of 35 pitches. He whiffed two batters and allowed three hits.

Both Ronny Henriquez and Cade Gibson threw an inning and retired all three batters they faced.

Valente Bellozo did allow a two-run home run to Yandy Diaz in the 5th inning. However, he was not distracted by that as he was able to take care of business in the 6th and 7th innings. Bellozo had three strikeouts and gave up just two hits in 3.1 innings.

Calvin Faucher would replace Bellozo in the 8th inning to record the last two outs. Brandon Lowe hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the inning for the Rays

Hitting observations

Compared to yesterday, when they were scoring runs in bunches, the Marlins didn’t have much to show for today.

The Marlins started the first inning on a roll. Xavier Edwards led the game off with a base hit. Edwards would then advance to third on a Jesus Sanchez groundout. Otto Lopez would then plate Edwards with a single.

Jesus Sanchez kept his hot streak going. He drove in a run in the 5th inning to make it 2-0 at the time.

Jesus Sanchez with an RBI single here and the #Marlins take a 2-0 lead. He has easily been the team's MVP this series. pic.twitter.com/FCfqPTIHvK

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 8, 2025

The only hitter who truly had a successful day was Heriberto Hernandez. He went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate today with a run scored.

Wrap up

A hit or two more at the right moment, and the Marlins could’ve won this one. The Rays went 0-for-4 with RISP while the Marlins went 2-for-4.

The two difference makers in this game would be Yandy Diaz and Drew Rasmussen. Diaz finished the game with three hits, and Rasmussen showed his durability on the mound, lasting six innings. All three strikeouts he had came via the four-seam fastball.

Dos for Díaz ✌️

🗳️: https://t.co/xd21pMuMpf pic.twitter.com/9j6ujtQATs

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2025

The return of Eury Perez

Eury Perez is set to make his anticipated debut of the season in the upcoming series against the Pirates. Perez had been recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Here’s what Clayton McCullough had to say regarding his return to the rotation.

[The] organization is excited, fan base as well. Eury is putting in a lot of hard work to get himself back at this point. Medical team, strength and conditioning team, so whenever someone’s coming back [from a]  long term injury like this, it takes a lot of hands that are a part of the…process to get back the player…being diligent with the rehab. It’s not easy. Isolated a lot, I think always, we’re all excited to have Eury back.

About Post Author