Gusto Sets Tone, Marlins Blank Red Sox to Avoid Sweep

MIAMI — An eight-pitch first inning by Miami Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto set the tone for a productive night for him and the club, as the Marlins took the series finale, 4-0 against the Boston Red Sox (73-60) Wednesday at loanDepot park.

Victor Vodnik, who pitched Tuesday in the Marlins’ 7-3 loss in 11 innings, relieved Gusto after he blanked the Red Sox for 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three walks and striking out two on 89 pitches.

Gusto’s ERA in August now stands at 1.85.

Since Miami (68-66) used seven relievers Tuesday, the club was forced to take a different route, calling on Janson Junk, a starter who pitched Sunday, to pitch in a high-leverage spot late in the game.

Junk pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and was backed by some great defense from center fielder Jakob Marsee, who made a sliding catch to finish the inning.

Left-hander Dax Fulton worked the ninth inning, recoding the final three outs. 

After the game, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough told reporters that only four relievers were available Wednesday: Vodnik, Junk for one inning, Fulton and lefty Patrick Monteverde, whom the club recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

The Marlins got to veteran right-hander Sonny Gray early in the first inning, thanks in part to a throwing error by first baseman Nick Sogard that allowed Kyle Stowers, who led off with a single, to move to third base.

Gray, who entered the contest 16-3 with a 2.79 ERA, took his first loss since Aug. 10 in Toronto after pitching five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on 93 pitches, walking one and striking out five.

Stowers would score on a single by Heriberto Hernández, who blasted his 20th home run of the season Tuesday.

Miami snapped a two-game losing streak after leaving a lot of traffic on the basepaths in the first two games.

McCullough recently discussed how it doesn’t matter where players hit in the lineup, adding that he remains confident they will produce no matter where they bat.

Miami’s lineup Wednesday featured Stowers in the leadoff spot, followed by Griffin Conine in the No. 2 spot while playing first base, and Xavier Edwards hitting cleanup.

Excellent heads-up base running from Otto Lopez gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead in the second. 

Lopez, attempting to steal second, came around to score on a throw from catcher Connor Wong that sailed into center field.

Miami didn’t gain any ground in the Wild Card standings, with the San Diego Padres beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 in the series finale at Petco Park.

The Marlins remain four games behind San Diego with 28 games remaining in the regular season.

They will begin a seven-game road trip Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET against the Washington Nationals.