WASHINGTON _ Tuesday was a chance for Zac Gallen to grow. Just six days earlier, the starting pitcher tossed five solid innings against the Washington Nationals before melting down in the sixth at Marlins Park. The rookie mixed the good with the bad in his second career start for the Miami Marlins and could regroup with an opportunity to face the same team once again less than a week later.
His second try was done after only two innings, although it wasn't Gallen's fault this time. A 76-minute rain delay washed away Gallen's third career start and the Marlins dropped a series-opener to the Nationals, 3-2, in Washington when the Trea Turner doubled home Yan Gomes for a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth against Jose Quijada.
For most of the day, two-run home run by Juan Soto in the bottom of the first inning was the difference and Gallen never got a chance to truly regroup after the early misstep. In the second inning, the starter gave up a one-out double and walk before he escaped a miniature jam with back-to-back strikeouts. Now down 2-1, Miami (32-51) went down in order in the top of the third as rain began pouring at Nationals Park, chasing most of the 21,361 to the concourse and eventually the exits. The rain delay began before Gallen could return to the mound
More than an hour later, play resumed and Washington (43-41) went to bat against relief pitcher Adam Conley. A fascinating test for Gallen was effectively halted before it could truly begin.
In the other clubhouse, Patrick Corbin worked to pitch through the rain. His break lasted even longer than 76 minutes and his return was dominant. The starting pitcher, who wrote "45" on the dirt of the mound and wore No. 45 instead of his usual No. 46 as a tribute to late Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs, gave up a run in the first inning before he even got an out when the Marlins led off with three straight singles, but settled in after sitting for about an hour and a half. In three innings before the rain delay, Corbin allowed one run and four hits with three strikeouts. In the four after the delay, the starter held Miami scoreless on two hits with four strikeouts.
The rain delay did, however, force Corbin out of the game after only 87 pitches, which gave the Marlins two innings to take their shot against the Nationals' unstable bullpen and they quickly took advantage. Cesar Puello led off the eighth with a double, fellow outfielder Curtis Granderson moved him to third with a groundout and Miguel Rojas, who went 3 for 3, drove him home with a sacrifice fly. Miami needed only three batters to tie the game at 2 against relief pitcher Wander Suero.
