The Miami Marlins fought back only to lose their opening night contest to the Detroit Tigers in 11 innings by a final score of 8-7 on Tuesday.
The Marlins completed an exciting comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings. Down by three runs, the Marlins scored three times to knot the game up. It was a game that Miami never gave up in and featured multiple comeback attempts.
Miami trailed 5-0 at one point and cut it to 5-4 before Detroit would extend the lead in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Derek Dietrich and Dee Gordon posted back-to-back run-scoring doubles to tie the game. For Dietrich, it was a big moment after a disappointing spring and it came during a pinch-hit appearance. The double was Gordon's second of the day and third hit overall for the second baseman who also tripled.
Wei-Yin Chen's debut did not go as planned with the Tigers posting a run in the first inning. Chen found himself in a quick jam but only surrendered one run. The following inning Detroit would add three more on one swing. Chen ended up allowing five runs on nine hits in his five innings of work.
Chen was hit by a comebacker on the mound early on, but stayed in the game. The lefty did not show any signs of an injury, but the three-run home run did follow the moment. The ball hit Chen on his throwing arm and he was checked out by the training stuff before continuing.
After Chen exited, Miami turned to nearly its entire bullpen. Edwin Jackson, Dustin McGowan and David Phelps worked a combined three perfect innings of relief. In the ninth inning, manager Don Mattingly turned to Bryan Morris who allowed a pair of home runs. That frame made Miami's aforementioned comeback in the ninth necessary.
During Miami's first comeback attempt, Giancarlo Stanton launched his first home run of the season. The blast nearly landed on the concourse in center field and was good for two runs batted in. Stanton ended up going 1-3 on the day with a walk and a strikeout.
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The winning run would come across the plate against reliever Craig Breslow who was making his debut for the Marlins. Breslow ended up allowing a hit and a walk in his lone inning of work.
The Marlins and Tigers will be right back at it on Wednesday afternoon with Jose Fernandez is slated to make the start.
