FLORIDA MARLINS

Marlins Loose Nailbiter to Rangers The Rangers got on top early when their lead off hitter, Lane Taylor, scored 1-run in the top of the 1st inning. That run held up through 5-innings when the Marlins scored 2-runs to go ahead in a game that turned out to be a defensive game and pitching duel. Spencer Mitchell and Jacob Quinkert both drew walks and were advanced to soring position when Phil Polston was put out at 1st after hitting a ground ball hit to the 2nd baseman. Joey Swearing walked to load the bases and place Rangers pitcher L. Taylor in a jam. Darious Lou then singled to plate Spencer M. and J. Quinkert. Ben Hooven then sent down swinging for the 2nd out but the Marlins were now up by 1-run with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Compton then walked to reload the bases. Dalton Mitchell then went down looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the rally. Dalton Smith who came in to pitch in relief of starting pitcher Tyler Simms set the Rangers down on 3-straight batters: the 1st on a super play by the catcher who picked up a dinker hit down 1st baseline throwing to P. Polston for the put out at 1st. Two strike outs and 6-pitches later the Marlin's had the lead and only needed to hold the Ranger's to win. Unfortunately, the lead off batter was walked and advanced to 2nd on a passed ball placing the tying runner in scoring position. The next hitter (lead off L.Taylor) hit a bloop fly to 1st fot the out number one. An exchange error, following a ground a ground ball hit to third, plated the tying run. The go ahead runner now at first advanced to 2nd when the 1st baseman made a late throw to the plate. Two passed balls then plated the go ahead runner and the Rangers were back on top. In the bottom of the 6th the Marlins started with lead off hitter Jake Steele who pulled a long fly caught by the R fielder. T. Simms then was put out at 1st following a solid ground ball hit to the Rangers short stop. The Marlins chances to start a rally were finally snuffed out when "Big D", Dalton Smith took a called 3rd strike to end the game. Congratulations to The Rangers for a well played game. Braydon Laughner looked srtong on the mound to start and Lane Taylor was adequate in his relief effort. The combo combined for 15-strike outs including nine on called 3rd strikes. With the exception of errors in the 1st and 6th innings: 1st-dropped fly in center field 6th-exchange error from position 6-3 and coverage failure on passed balls the Marlins played very well. T. Simms made a super defensive play in the 1st inning when he turned an assisted double play catching B. Laughner off of 1st after fielding a waist high liner from the bat of Ranger's clean-up hitter Q. Bailey. Jake Steele also performed well catching the entire game. He made two assisted outs in the 4th and 5th innings when Ranger's batters hit dinkers up the 1st base line. P. Polston was on the receiving end for both throws. J. Quinkert fielded every ball that came his way at SS and had 2-solo putouts on caught flys in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Tyler and Dalton S. combined for 8-stike outs.