MIAMI -- With seven starting pitchers on the injured list and the Marlins’ bullpen racking up innings, the organization decided earlier this week to utilize right-hander Bryan Hoeing as a starter upon his return from the 15-day IL. In order to put this plan into action, rookie righty Roddery Muñoz would follow Hoeing in an extended relief outing.

Although the Marlins lost to the White Sox, 3-2, on Friday night at loanDepot park while debuting this strategy, the club accomplished what it had hoped.

Manager Skip Schumaker needed to use just four arms to cover nine frames: three innings from Hoeing, four innings from Muñoz and an inning apiece from righties JT Chargois and Declan Cronin. And the Marlins were within striking distance to pick up the victory. In the ninth, the Marlins had the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on first before Josh Bell grounded out to first to end the game.

“They gave up three runs in nine innings,” Schumaker said. “That's pretty dang good, and I thought they did exactly what they needed to keep us in the game. We had a chance a few times.”

Hoeing allowed one run in the outing, his first start of the season and the ninth of his career. He struck out four and walked one, throwing 46 pitches -- three shy of his highest total during his rehab assignment, which came in his final appearance.

The aggressive White Sox struck in the second by collecting hits on three consecutive pitches: Paul DeJong and Lenyn Sosa, who was thrown out by right fielder Dane Myers trying to hustle for a double, connected on sinkers, and Nicky Lopez lined an RBI double off a slider.

“They definitely came out swinging in the second inning,” Hoeing said. “I was not expecting that. Maybe they made an in-game adjustment. I'm not sure. It looked like it, for sure. But I don't think that really changed my plan of attack. It was still always to get ahead. I'm never going to be a pitcher that kind of nitpicks, especially early in the count. We've always preached in this organization to get ahead [with] first-pitch strikes.”

Before Hoeing missed two months with a left hamstring strain, he had gone from a long reliever to a reliable setup man in the bullpen. During the early part of his MLB career, he has also served in the role of swingman.

"I think that's something I've always taken pride in is being able to do multiple roles within a season,” Hoeing said. “It's certainly not easy to balance role to role within a season, but I take pride in that, and just my preparation, just having familiarity with both being able to pitch one-run-inning games, multiple innings, starting, relieving.

"I think the coaching staff knows that they're able to put me in those positions and that I'll be able to go out there and give it my all. Like I said, at this point, it's all-hands-on-deck. So whatever they need me to do, I'm willing to go out there and do it for them."

Muñoz then piggybacked Hoeing, giving up two runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out two in an 87-pitch outing.

In the fourth, Muñoz allowed a two-out rally that started on a walk to Lopez. Martín Maldonado (.095 average) then doubled down the left-field line. Muñoz later permitted a two-out RBI double to Lopez in the fifth.

“I think that at first I didn't have good command,” Muñoz said via interpreter Will Nadal. “It was something that was playing against me. The sinker was something I wasn't able to locate. I think also in the beginning of the game, I was tipping my pitches a little bit. That's something that as the game was going on, we kind of figured that out, worked on it, and I was able to right the ship moving forward.”

Muñoz has been inconsistent as a starter. Since rejoining the big league club on June 8, he has gone six innings twice but has been unable to complete five frames in the other three starts.

Unlike Hoeing, however, Muñoz has predominantly been a starter in his professional career. Of his 104 outings, 71 have been starts. Still, Friday’s role had its advantages,

“Definitely,” Muñoz said. “I think you're always looking at the pitcher in this instance, the starter, what their out pitch is and what's effective. And then you kind of get a little scouting report there seeing what's most effective against them and what I think I could utilize in order to get the players out."