Marlins embrace role of spoiler, grab series win vs. O's

MIAMI -- It is not hard to see what kind of season this has been for the Marlins.

A glimpse at the standings tells that tale.

However, since the second half of this season started, the Marlins look like a team ready to play spoiler against those fighting for the postseason.

On Wednesday night, Miami beat the American League East-leading Orioles for the second straight night, this one 6-3 at loanDepot park.

Miami has clinched the series win against the Orioles with the three-game series finale Thursday at 12:10 p.m. ET.

This is the Marlins' first series win against a playoff contender since taking two of three against the Mariners on June 21-23.

“It has been really good because we are playing playoff-caliber teams who are not only trying to get into the playoffs, but probably win the World Series as well,” said manager Skip Schumaker, whose team has gone 4-2 against the Mets and Orioles to open the second half of the season.

“That is one of the better teams we have faced all year. For us to not only play with them the past two games, but to win those games, says a lot about that group,” Schumaker added. “They are trending the right way. They are playing the game the right way.”

Miami, which started its season with nine straight losses, has been getting a lot of production lately from several different sources.

In Wednesday’s win, Josh Bell kicked things off with a home run to right in the fourth inning that went a Statcast-projected 414 feet.

The Marlins put up two more runs on Baltimore starter Chayce McDermott, making his Major League debut, in the fourth -- one off a single from Xavier Edwards, the other on a sacrifice fly from Nick Gordon.

Edwards spent much of his season playing in the Minors and was called up for the second time this season from Triple-A Jacksonville earlier in the month.

He had a big night Wednesday, tying a career high with three hits and scoring the go-ahead run on a double from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the seventh.

“I am trying to keep it simple, trying to treat every at-bat as its own, take positives from each one and swing at good pitches,” said Edwards, who has three of his six RBIs in the past week.

“We’re having a lot of fun. Skip told us at the All-Star break in a meeting we had that we were going to be playing a lot of contenders and a lot of playoff teams in the second half,” Edwards said. “It’s kind of up to us to spoil the party. I think we have been doing that.”

Miami got a solid start from Edward Cabrera on Wednesday, but he was pulled in the sixth with one out after he walked the bases loaded.

The Marlins' bullpen has been terrific lately, but reliever Huascar Brazoban gave up a bases-clearing double to Colton Cowser with two outs in the sixth to tie the score at 3.

“Our bullpen was good, but I messed up that bullpen situation,” Schumaker said, explaining that he should have had Andrew Nardi ready to go in the sixth.

“I was too worried about the pinch-hit at-bat, it sped up a bit. [Brazoban] did a really good job getting [an] out, but I should have had Nardi up earlier.’’

Miami’s bullpen did not allow another run, with Nardi (2-1), Calvin Faucher and All-Star closer Tanner Scott holding Baltimore without a hit in the final three innings.

With Chisholm doubling in Edwards and Nick Gordon in the seventh -- then scoring on a single from Bryan De La Cruz -- Miami was well on its way to a rousing victory.

The Marlins have won three of their past four against the Orioles and Mets -- with Chisholm hitting a three-run home run and adding a pair of two-run doubles in those wins.

“Listen, we’re not in the position we thought we would be coming out of Spring Training,’’ said Schumaker, whose team earned a National League Wild Card spot last year.

“For them to come out and play as hard as they are -- stealing bases, running the bases the right way -- it’s the effort I am looking for. There have been some mental errors … which are teaching moments, but they are playing the game hard. They’re diving all over the place. … I cannot be more grateful and thankful for the effort they are putting in.’’