Stowers returns, igniting the Marlins' offense. Perez dominates on the mound, securing a crucial victory and avoiding the sweep.
MIAMI — The men in teal are indeed for real.
For the second time this season, the Miami Marlins hit the field donning the throwback real jerseys and coming away victorious.
All-Star left fielder Kyle Stowers made his season debut after missing the first 21 games due to a hamstring strain. He went 2-for-3 during the Marlins’ 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Marlins catcher Liam Hicks told Marlins radio after the game that it “felt great” to have their star back in the lineup.
“He’s someone who’s gonna drive in a bunch of runs. He’s gonna be on base a ton,” Hicks said. “And he’s just a great clubhouse guy. He’s a leader on the team. He’s someone that the team looks to. It’s very nice having him back in the dugout.”
Marlins starter Eury Perez threw six innings, allowing one unearned run with seven strikeouts in a pitching performance reminiscent of his first start of the season. Hicks said Perez “was awesome tonight and gave us a chance to win.”
“I think he was just a little more focused,” Hicks said. “The fastball command was there, getting it down and away to the righties, down and in to the lefties. It just allowed everything else to work so I think he just stayed on the gas all day.”
Perez said during his postgame press conference through Marlins interpreter Luis Dorante that the advice he received from ace Sandy Alcantara to throw more inside pitches paid off.
“They kept telling me to trust my pitches,” Pérez said. “They told me that I'm one of the best pitchers in the league, that I have to trust my stuff, and then just continue to develop those things and just trust myself and do a good job with that.”
The Marlins took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Jakob Marsee led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Xavier Edwards. A fielding error loaded the bases to give Stowers a chance for a big reintroduction.
Marsee scored the first run on a wild pitch and Stowers was hit in the hand. Agustín Ramirez drove in Edwards after grounding into a double play and a single by Liam Hicks scored the third run.
“Gotta capitalize on that first inning,” Hicks said.
Following a mound visit with Brewers Manager Pat Murphy, Milwaukee starting pitcher Jacob Misioroski ended the Marlins rally with a strikeout and proceeded to strikeout eight more batters in the next four innings.
The Brewers’ only run off Perez came in the sixth inning. David Hamilton led off the inning on a walk, stole second base, and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He scored on a groundout by Garrett Mitchell.
Hicks led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Owen Caissie. Javier Sanoja came in as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and drove in two runs on a single for his 100th career hit.
The Brewers added two more runs on a single by Gary Sanchez in the eighth inning, but a lineout cut the rally short.
Pete Fairbanks earned his third save of the season with a perfect ninth inning and two strikeouts. Fairbanks has not given up a run and has only one hit in five home appearances this season.
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