Koehler Helps Marlins Inch Closer to First Place

The Marlins are only a half-game out of first in the National League East after their shutout win on Saturday

The Miami Marlins are only a half-game out of first place in the division thanks to a 5-0 shutout win on Saturday over the San Francisco Giants.

The win moved the Marlins to 4-6 on their current road trip with one game to play, which comes as a surprise after how the trip began. Miami began the 11-game trip 1-5 to help them maintain the worst road record in Major League Baseball.

Tom Koehler was brilliant once again with seven shutout innings to improve to 4-3 on the year. The record does not tell the full story as Koehler has pitched well enough to have more wins. The right-hander has a sparkling 2.25 E.R.A, which is good for eighth best in the National League.

Koehler struck out seven, walked two and surrendered four hits while throwing an even 100 pitches. In contrast, the right-hander threw 103 pitches in less than four innings during his previous start. Koehler had all his pitches working on Saturday and had a 1-2-3 inning to end his day.

After Koehler was done for the day, A.J. Ramos pitched a perfect eighth inning. In the ninth, the Marlins turned to Kevin Slowey due to having a five-run lead. The veteran struggled though and loaded the bases. With the tying run on deck, closer Steve Cishek was brought in for a one-out save. Cishek got the job done by striking out the only batter he saw for his ninth save of the season.

Giancarlo Stanton lost his long hitting streak a day earlier but he started a new one in this game with some important hits. Stanton had a pair of hits, one went for his 12th home run of the year and the other was his first triple of the season. Stanton now has 43 RBI on the season. Garrett Jones also tripled for the first time this year.

The Marlins can win the series on Sunday and will send Jacob Turner to the mound to try and do just that.

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