Ryan Gusto keys shutout as Marlins salvage series vs. Red Sox

Single runs in the first two innings and Ryan Gusto’s 5 2/3 shutout frames propelled the Miami Marlins to a 4-0 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

The Marlins tagged Boston starter Sonny Gray (16-4) for two hits in each of the first two frames, but four Red Sox errors had a major impact on all of the scoring.

Javier Sanoja went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three stolen bases, while Otto Lopez (2-for-4, two stolen bases, two runs scored) and Heriberto Hernandez (2-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit games to help the Marlins salvage the three-game series.

Gusto (1-3) struck out two while working around four hits and three walks en route to his first victory of the season. Victor Vodnik, Janson Junk and Dax Fulton all worked in relief to preserve the shutout.

The Red Sox managed only five hits. Caleb Durbin was 2-for-4.

Three batters in, Hernandez’s RBI single past diving shortstop Andruw Monasterio brought Kyle Stowers home. Stowers lined a leadoff single to right before advancing to third on Boston first baseman Nick Sogard’s throwing error while attempting to turn a 3-6 double play.

After Gusto stranded the bases loaded on only one Anthony Seigler hit in the top of the second, Lopez generated Miami’s second run after starting the inning with a knock to left. Following Boston center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s diving catch on an Owen Caissie liner into the gap, Lopez stole second and scored on catcher Connor Wong’s off-target throw.

Gray did his part to keep the Red Sox in the game, stranding two runners in scoring position in back-to-back frames. The righty capped the second with two strikeouts before left fielder Jarren Duran’s sliding catch near the foul line robbed Caissie in the third. He allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings.

Meanwhile, Gusto turned aside the Red Sox in 1-2-3 fashion in both the fourth and fifth innings before Vodnik helped him through a two-on, two-out jam by catching Seigler looking to end the sixth.

The Marlins tacked on crucial insurance runs in the eighth. Lopez’s single, stolen base and advancement on another Wong misfire set up Caissie, who brought the run home on a hard grounder that Sogard misplayed. Two batters later, Sanoja lined an RBI single up the middle.

–Field Level Media