Zuber Secures First MLB Save, Marlins Hang on to Beat Rays

MIAMI — Tyler Zuber finished what Pete Fairbanks could not. 

Only five days removed from being called up from Triple-A Jacksonville, Zuber entered the game with one of the toughest missions in baseball. 

Retire Junior Caminero with the bases loaded. 

“That’s exactly how I drew it up in my mind,” Zuber said. 

Zuber struck Caminero out and secured the Miami Marlins’ 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at loanDepot park. Zuber told the Marlins Radio Network after the game his plan against Caminero — who entered the game with 14 home runs, 30 RBI and a .288 batting average — was to “attack and not let off.”

“It couldn’t have honestly been any better,” Zuber said. 

Zuber made his MLB debut in 2020, but Saturday was his first save as a big league reliever. He said “every emotion I ever had as a professional” came out after he struck out Caminero to clinch the win. 

“This is the one that I wanted the most,” Zuber said. 

Zuber warmed up in the bullpen multiple times during the game but was passed over in favor of Michael Peterson and Fairbanks. After the Rays came back from a 4-0 deficit to come within a run and load the bases in the ninth inning, it was time to break the glass and send in Zuber. 

“You've got to have that killer mindset and be able to switch back and forth,” Zuber said. “Thankfully, I had that today.”

Zuber’s strikeout bailed out Marlins closer Fairbanks, who gave up two runs on two hits with three walks in 0.2 innings. The Marlins used seven relievers during the game, starting with Lake Bachar, who tossed three hitless innings with three strikeouts. 

“They were frustrating to try to navigate through,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Nobody gets in a rhythm at all because you’re not seeing the same pitcher. You can’t do it every day, but today they did a nice job over there.” 

Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan held the Marlins bats down through the first four innings. The Marlins didn’t break through until the fifth inning, when Javier Sanoja led off with a solo home run, and Joe Mack hit an RBI double to put Miami up 2-0. 

“For the way the game started, it seemed like quite the pitching duel,” Cash said. “The Marlins did a nice job of getting runs.”

The Marlins added to their lead with two more runs in the sixth inning. Sanoja struck again with an RBI single, and Liam Hicks hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Sanjoa went 3-for-4 to lead the Marlins at the plate. 

The Rays scored on an RBI double in the eighth inning by Yandy Diaz, who led the Rays with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. After a wild pitch led to a run in the ninth, Diaz struck again with an RBI single to make it close for the Rays. 

“I expect the effort,” Cash said. “They’ve shown that all season long.”

The Marlins will send Sandy Alcantara (4-4, 4.59 ERA) on the mound with a chance to secure a Citrus Series win against the Rays and Griffin Jax (1-4, 4.76 ERA). 

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