The Tartan Army traded football for baseball, flooding loanDepot Park with bagpipes and beer to transform a quiet Marlins game into a raucous Scottish celebration.
MIAMI - The Little Havana section of the city of Miami was invaded by Scotland Monday evening and the residents could not have been happier.
Neither could the Miami Marlins.
Marlins' fans, usually disguised as empty seats and outnumbered by visiting team's fans, used the extra support from the Scots who have adopted the Marlins as their team on this night.
The Tartan Army took in the Marlins 4-3 loss against the Texas Rangers. The Tartan Army is a legion of serious football fans that travel around the globe supporting Scotland's National Team.
Well, they did not exactly take it in. They took it over.
About 15,000 members of the Scottish fan base waltzed into loanDepot Park, kilts and all singing their songs, waiving their flags and blowing their bag pipes. This will all pale in comparison to their fanaticism that they will display Wednesday when the Scots face Brazil in the FIFA World Cup at Miami Stadium.
The actual attendance was 20,008.
Marlins starting pitcher Tyler Phillips threw six innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts with the Tartan Army behind his back. Despite giving up a two-run homer by Ezequiel Duran in the fourth inning, Phillips said this outing was “way better than my last outing” in Philadelphia.
“I love energy, man,” Phillips said. “Scotland, the Tartan Army, if it was up to me, I’d be paying those people to come to games. It was unbelievable. From the second that I walked out and up the dugout, I felt it in my chest, like it felt great. There were “USA” chants. They were just happy to be here.
“They’re unbelievable fans,” Phillips added. “If I ever see them, if I’m ever out there, I got their backs.”
Both Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards went 2-for-3 for the Marlins at the plate. Edwards’ triple tied the game 2-2 in the sixth inning.
A double by Alejandro Osuna and sacrifice fly in the eighth inning put the Rangers back on top 4-2. The Marlins responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double by Kyle Stowers, but it wasn’t enough.
The Tartan Army had a long day of imbibing South Florida's finest alcohol and food. They began the day's festivities by packing the Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale, which has been visited by the Florida Panthers after both of their Stanley Cup victories.
They then dined Latino-style at the Ball and Chain Restaurant in Little Havana.
They showed up hours before the first pitch and concession stands were already requesting more beer. By the way, the tasty adult beverage of the evening was Stella Artois.
Shortly before the first pitch, the Scots paraded with their bag pipes around the warning track. The fans in the stands were singing and roaring with their approval. Once the game started they took their seats behind first base and third base. The lucky ones had tickets to watch the game from the Home Run Harbor in centerfield.
The Scots are a courteous bunch who just like to root for their team, drink and have a good time. When the Marlins' fans cheered, they cheered. When they booed, the acted in step.
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