Marlins Open 6-Game Homestand With a Thud, Fall to Angels

MIAMI — Sloppy play late in the game doomed the Miami Marlins on Friday in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels as they opened a critical six-game homestand at loanDepot park.

The Angels (45-71) marched to victory with a three-run seventh inning, scoring all three runs against Marlins reliever Josh Ekness with two outs.

The loss dropped the Marlins to 58-59, their first time below .500 since July 25 when they fell 7-2 to the San Diego Padres during a franchise-record 12-game losing streak.

The Marlins tried to mount a ninth-inning comeback, with late drama unfolding with two outs and a runner on first.

Javier Sanoja roped a double that hit off the glove of Angels third baseman Denzer Guzman.

Leo Jiménez, attempting to score from first, got the green light from Marlins third-base coach Blake Lalli but was gunned down at home plate on a strong throw from left fielder José Siri, allowing Tyler Heineman to apply the tag before Jiménez’s hand crossed home plate.

Manager Clayton McCullough said after the loss that he was “fine” with Lalli sending Jiménez, even though the ball wasn’t hit particularly hard.

The Angels took an early 1-0 lead when star center fielder Mike Trout hammered a four-seam fastball from Tyler Phillips for a home run in the first inning.

Friday was Trout’s 35th birthday, and it marked the sixth time in his career that he has homered on his birthday.

McCullough removed Phillips after he allowed a leadoff single to open the fifth inning.

Phillips threw 61 pitches, allowing just Trout’s home run and one walk while striking out four.

"He put a very good swing on it. That's what Mike Trout's gonna do," Phillips said after the game. 

Miami, which has now lost four consecutive games after being swept by the Atlanta Braves earlier this week at Truist Park, responded in the bottom of the fourth inning against Angels right-hander George Klassen.

Klassen, who was pulled after four innings and 83 pitches, allowed a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Stowers that tied the score at 1-1.

Stowers, who was in the leadoff spot Friday, put together his fifth career game with at least four hits.

His two-out bloop single to center gave the Marlins a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning.

The Marlins will send ace Sandy Alcantara to the mound Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET, with the club needing to string together wins to avoid falling out of the playoff race.