Cooper's HR caps comeback after Garrett's dominant outing

MIAMI -- Around Thursday night’s fifth inning, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker and his coaching staff brought up their worry that Braxton Garrett's superb start would go to waste.

Garrett was in the process of becoming the first lefty in franchise history to strike out 13 batters and walk none. He would allow two runs (one earned) over seven innings in a pitchers’ duel with Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller.

But after Pittsburgh hit a pair of solo homers off lefty Andrew Nardi -- his first time being taken deep in 21 outings -- Miami faced a three-run deficit in the eighth. Schumaker turned to Jonathan Davis, who was set to lead off the bottom half of the frame, and had one request: Get on base.

“You'll have some of those flat games, and it's up to the guys to try to create some sort of spark or energy, and J.D. did that,” Schumaker said. “You create energy when you get back-to-back hits or a walk and a hit or whatever it is. You can start feeling it a little bit inside there. And I also think -- I've said this earlier -- when you come from behind and win early in the season, you know you can do it in the middle of the season or late in the season. So there's no panic.”

What would unfold was Miami’s 21st comeback victory of the season – tied with Atlanta for sixth in the Majors.

Garrett Cooper crushed a go-ahead three-run homer to cap a five-run eighth in the Marlins’ 6-4 victory over the Pirates at loanDepot park. Not only did Miami snap its modest two-game skid but it also extended Pittsburgh’s losing streak to 10.

“When you struggle, six, seven weeks, you get flashes of feeling good at the plate, and then you don't have flashes,” said Cooper, who also doubled and singled. “The season can really mentally beat you down more than anything. I've seen so many games where I've had chances to drive runners in and didn't come up this year.

“Just to come up in a situation like that and put a win on the board for the guys who battled all day. I've been here a long time so far, and like I say every day, it's just different. There's just so much team chemistry this year that maybe we didn't have in the past. Every guy is just for each other, and you say that about every single 26 guys on the team.”

Look no further than Davis, whom the Marlins acquired in a trade with the Tigers on May 22. Schumaker knew nothing about the outfielder with just 171 MLB games on his resume scattered across three organizations. The 31-year-old Davis has been the primary center fielder ever since with Jazz Chisholm Jr. rehabbing his turf toe.

Davis started Thursday’s rally with a leadoff double. Luis Arraez walked and Jorge Soler singled to chase reliever Dauri Moreta. Bryan De La Cruz then welcomed Carmen Mlodzinski with a two-run single, and Jesús Sánchez advanced the two runners on a groundout to first.

“I just like playing the game, but it makes it even better when you’ve got a group of guys who also love the game and like to play with each other,” said Davis, who has a .744 OPS in 24 games. “I think we’ve got a good group, so it's been fun ever since I got here. I do play with a lot of energy and a lot of passion. I've always been like that since I played T-ball. I just have fun out there.”

Cooper followed by ambushing Mlodzinski’s first-pitch 96.6 mph four-seamer and sending it over the right-center wall for the decisive swing. He entered the series opener with a .599 OPS since May 14, so he understandably showed a lot of emotion while rounding the bases.

The Marlins would like nothing more than for the 2022 All-Star to find his swing and be a force in the middle of their lineup.

“A good Cooper makes us really good, and the last couple games you can see opposite-field doubles, extra-base hits,” Schumaker said. “Today really good at-bats against Keller, one of the few guys that was taking really good at-bats against him. Gosh, if he gets going, he's the type of guy that can carry us. Obviously, he's one of the guys that can change the score with one swing like he did tonight. He works. He like really works, so it's good to see some results come today.”