Jazz, ‘itching to get back,’ immediately helps Marlins, but bullpen implodes in Phillies loss

He stood in the on-deck circle Sunday, taking a couple final dry swings, as he heard the announcement bellowed throughout Dodger Stadium.

“Leading off for the Miami Marlins, the shortstop, No. 2, Jazz Chisholm Jr.”

After missing 16 games while rehabbing a left hamstring strain, Chisholm — the Marlins’ flourishing rookie middle infielder with in-game talent only matched by his personality — finally made his return to the Marlins’ lineup and helped the Marlins avoid a three-game sweep with a pair of hits, a stolen base and a run scored in their series finale win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It was exciting to be back,” Chisholm said a couple days later, reflecting on the last two-and-a-half weeks. “I was itching to get back a lot earlier, even though I couldn’t.”

Chisholm was back in the leadoff spot again Tuesday and served as the spark the Marlins needed on offense but an eight-inning implosion by the bullpen doomed the Marlins in their 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies to begin a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park that caps a 10-game road trip.

The Marlins are 18-23. The Phillies are 22-20.

Nine consecutive Phillies hitters reached base in the eighth inning against Dylan Floro and John Curtiss, all of which happened after a fan ran onto the field (the second to do so during the final innings of the game). Seven runs scored in that span.

Floro, who entered Tuesday with a 0.96 ERA and on a run of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances, was tagged for five runs on four hits and a walk.

“I’m not quite sure what we saw,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Floro, “other than not getting outs.”

Before that, Chisholm was involved both times the Marlins took a lead.

He opened in the fourth by showing his value on the basepaths. He reached base on a leadoff single, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt, reached third on a Miguel Rojas single and scored on an Adam Duvall sacrifice fly.

He gave the Marlins the lead for good in the eighth with his power potential, belting a 100.5 mph fastball from left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado a projected 378 feet to right field for a two-run home run.

Chisholm is hitting .308 this season with five home runs, nine RBI and 14 runs scored. His eight stolen bases were tied for second in MLB entering Tuesday.

During Chisholm’s absence, the Marlins went 7-9 and averaged just 3.4 runs and 7.1 hits per game. The team averaged nearly one full run (4.3) and one full hit (8.0) more per game through the first 23 games before Chisholm’s injury.

“I wasn’t really down on the IL,” Chisholm said. “I was more upset that I couldn’t help our team.”

Chisholm felt his hamstring tighten up when he stole second base in the first inning of the Marlins’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 27. Chisholm knew he most likely was going to come out of the game at some point.

But he was already on the bases. He was already in scoring position. He wanted to finish the job.

He moved to third base with one out on a Miguel Rojas groundball. He felt the pain a little bit more but also had the confidence that he would score on a fly ball, which he got on the next plate appearance from Jesus Aguilar.

“I’m going no matter what,” Chisholm said, “even though I already knew how it felt. He hit it deep enough for me to cruise into home, so we didn’t have to push it or tear anything.”

Chisholm was sidelined for about a week before beginning a running progression. He then played three games with the Triple A Jumbo Shrimp on a rehab assignment last week before flying to Los Angeles on Saturday to join the big-league club. He went 4 for 9 at the plate with one double, one home run, four RBI and three runs scored in those games with the Jumbo Shrimp and had no issues running the bases.

“Jazz looked pretty good,” Mattingly said Sunday. “His timing seems to be easy. He’s loose at the plate in his movements. He’s smooth and his timing’s pretty good. He missed a little time, but I didn’t think it was going to bother him too much.”

A question to ponder, though: What does Chisholm’s return mean for Isan Diaz, who played the majority of games at second base in Chisholm’s absence?

Mattingly said Tuesday that middle infield reps will primarily go to Chisholm and shortstop Miguel Rojas, but having Diaz gives the team flexibility to give starters the occasional off day. Diaz has also taken groundballs at third base during pregame warmups, giving them an extra option outside of superutility player Jon Berti to spell starter Brian Anderson if needed.

On the mound

The Marlins brought Cody Poteet back to the active roster to start Tuesday’s game against the Phillies.

And he impressed once again.

The rookie right-hander threw five scoreless innings, holding the Phillies to three hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. Of his 85 pitches, 55 were strikes.

He worked out of a pair of jams early. In the second, he had runners on first and second with one out before getting Andrew Knapp to fly out and Nick Maton to ground out. In the third, he gave up a leadoff double to Zach Wheeler and walked Jean Segura before getting Bryce Harper to fly out and Rhys Hoskins to pop out behind home plate.

“I felt good,” Poteet said. “Same type of mental aggression. Just wanted to throw a lot of strikes. ... Felt like I kept emotions for the most part under control.”

It backed up Poteet’s MLB debut, during which he held the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs on four hits over five innings of work while striking out six and not allowing a walk on Wednesday. That day, he became just the third starting pitcher in Marlins history to pitch at least five innings and not allow a walk in his MLB debut. Anibal Sanchez (June 25, 2006) and Sixto Sanchez (Aug. 22, 2020) are the others.

“That was encouraging,” Mattingly said.

The Marlins placed outfielder Lewis Brinson on the 10-day IL with a left middle finger injury prior to Tuesday’s game to make room for Poteet on the roster. Since Poteet was optioned to the minor leagues fewer than 10 days ago, they had to make a IL-related move in order to recall Poteet to the active roster.

Brinson had solely been used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement in the last three games he played. His last at-bat came on May 11.

More injury updates

▪ Right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez began a rehab assignment with the Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday, working three scoreless and hitless innings with four strikeouts and two walks. He threw 44 pitches. Mattingly said Hernandez will likely need at least one and potentially two more rehab starts before the Marlins make a decision about whether to add him back to the starting rotation.

▪ Outfielder Starling Marte has begun a hitting progression back in Miami. He is hitting off a machine.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is scheduled for a live batting practice session on Saturday.

▪ Catcher Jorge Alfaro is progressing after a setback during his rehab assignment. The hope is he will resume a hitting and throwing program Wednesday.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez is still on a long-toss program on flat ground, throwing from 120 feet.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Jorge Guzman continues his mound progression. He is scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Wednesday and Saturday.