MIAMI _ Wei-Yin Chen strayed from the script of his 2018 season, but the Miami Marlins could not.
In a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Marlins Park, Chen twirled six innings of one-run ball, a welcome distraction in an otherwise miserable year for the veteran left-hander. But the Marlins' offense couldn't solve Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray and only Starlin Castro's ninth-inning homer saved Miami from being shut out.
The loss was the second straight for the Marlins, who had their three-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night. Miami will try to avoid going 1-6 against the Diamondbacks when the two teams finish their season series Thursday.
For Chen, nights like Wednesday night haven't come around often. He lugged an unsightly 6.70 ERA into the matchup with Arizona. His strikeout rate was at a career low. His walk rate was at a career high. He failed to finish five innings in four of his last five starts.
But Chen retired the first 11 Diamondbacks he faced and only waded into trouble in the fifth inning, when the first three Arizona hitters reached. Ketel Marte doubled. Chris Owings singled. And Devin Marrero laced a run-scoring single.
That was the only blemish on Chen's ledger Wednesday night, who departed for pinch-hitter JB Shuck in the bottom of the sixth inning.
A resurgence from Chen would be a boon for the Marlins rotation. It's already missing Caleb Smith, the standout rookie likely lost for the season with a Grade 3 lat strain. Jose Urena is on the disabled list with right shoulder impingement. Dan Straily has three games remaining on his five-game suspension.
And the Marlins could be debuting a pair of 22-year-old prospects this weekend against the Mets in Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez.
Ray, meanwhile, fooled the Marlins. Only two baserunners reached second base against Ray, making his first start since April 29. Miami threatened in the fourth inning when Starlin Castro and Brian Anderson led off the inning with walks. But strikeouts from Lewis Brinson and Derek Dietrich ended the threat.
Diamondbacks pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso launched a solo home run off reliever Adam Conley in the eighth inning to give Arizona a two-run cushion.
