Miami Marlins Owen Cassie runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at LoanDepot in Miami on Fri Jun 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (31-44) briefly held the lead but unfortunately the relief pitching could not hold that lead falling to the Miami Marlins (38-38) 4-3 in game one of their series. Miami went through eight pitchers pulling off the win.

Game recap: Marlins pitcher Lake Bachar walked two runners in the top of the first inning but San Francisco left them stranded. It was a decent start for Bachar as the game went into the bottom of the inning. It was, however, a rough start for Landen Roupp giving up an Owen Caissie solo home run for an early Miami 1-0 lead.

Willy Adames got the first hit of the game for the Giants in the top of the second inning. It was quite a milestone, his 1000th career hit. Casey Schmitt followed Adames hitting a single and San Francisco had two runners on base with no outs.

Drew Gilbert bunted and with no outs the Giants had the bases loaded. Daniel Susac very nearly had himself a grand slam but it was snatched out of the air by the defense. He missed the long ball but Adames scored on the hit to tie up this game 1-1.

That near miss was enough for the Marlins to make a pitching change. Leftie John King relieved Bachar who had allowed three hits, one earned run and two walks. He had one strikeout. King got the Marlins out of the inning.

Jakob Marsee singled in the bottom of the second inning and the Giants would have to keep a close eye on this guy. Marsee has stolen 17 bases this season. He lived up to his reputation stealing his 18th base moving to second. Roupp gave up a hit and a steal with two strikeouts in the inning but allowed no runs.

With two outs San Francisco had runners at the corners in the top of the third inning. Again Miami had a pitching change, Anthony Bender relieving King. Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee both singled in the inning but were left stranded.

The game would go into the bottom of the fifth inning still tied at one apiece. The Marlins would break the tie taking a 2-1 lead when Caissie doubled Sanoja home for a brief 2-1 lead. The San Francisco offense had a lucrative sixth inning that started off with a Devers solo home run tying up this game once again 2-2.

Lee followed that home run up with a double. Schmitt singled Lee home and the Giants had taken their first lead of the game 3-2. Roupp had a solid bottom of the sixth and it was on to the seventh inning.

The Marlins went three and out in the top of the seventh inning. Hentges relieved Roupp in the bottom of the seventh. Roupp finished six innings allowing seven hits, two runs, one walk and seven strikeouts. A great outing for Roupp.

The Marlins rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning putting two runners on base with no outs. Miami tied up the game 3-3 when Liam Hicks singled Esteury Ruiz home and with one out the Marlins were threatening to take the lead.

Owen Caissie had really made a difference in this game and the go-ahead run scored when he sacrificed and Javier Sanoja scored. The Giants intentionally walked Kyle Stowers and with two outs San Francisco wanted out of the inning without further damage. Walker relieved Hentges to close out the inning.

The game went into the top of the eighth, the Giants looking for some base traffic but went three and out with Lee and Adames grounding out and Schmitt lining out. San Francisco was three outs away from losing the first game of the series.

The Marlins threatened in the bottom of the eighth putting two runners on base with two outs. Erik Miller took the mound in the inning with 2 on and 2 out and closed out the inning.

Pete Fairbanks would take the mound for Miami looking to close out this game. He held off the Giants winning 4-3. The relief pitching for the Giants just could not hold the lead.

Game notes: After a fractured series earlier this week the Giants traveled to Miami for a three-game series with the Marlins. Tuesday the match-up between the Giants and the Braves was suspended due to inclement weather and a double-header was scheduled for Wednesday morning.

San Francisco swept the doubleheader taking a 2-0 series lead. They were denied the opportunity to play game three of the series on Thursday looking for a three game sweep, again due to a tropical storm. That game was re-scheduled for August 31st.

Friday’s weather cooperated although there was a heat advisory with temperatures in the low 90’s. The forecasted rain today had moved out but there is threat of lightning and thunder for Saturday and Sunday games which are expected to go off without a hitch.

San Francisco came into the game rested after having Thursday off but lost in a close one run game to the Marlins. The Giants have been exceptional at the plate recently.

Saturday the two teams will meet in game two of this series. The Giants will looking to tie up the series. Trevor McDonals will take the mound for San Francisco with a 2-4 win/loss record and a 4.64 ERA. The Marlins will start Max Meyer who is having a great season. He has a 7-0 win/loss record and a 2.75 ERA. First pitch for the game is scheduled for 1:10 PM PDT.