Otto Lopez homers in Marlins 4-3 loss to Pirates

It’s only the first two games of the season, but if there’s one thing the Miami Marlins are showing in 2025, is at least they can get hits off the opposing team’s closer. 

If that somehow became the trend for the entire season, then the team would at least be entertaining at the end. 

Alas, after winning on a walk-off on Opening Day, the Marlins could not replicate their magic on Friday, falling 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Second baseman Otto Lopez made it a one-run game with a two-run home run in the ninth inning. Lopez slashed .270/.313/.377 with six home runs and 20 stolen bases in his first full season in the big leagues last year and looks like a key piece for the rebuild. 

Unfortunately for the Marlins, they weren’t as clutch as they were on Opening Day, as the Fish went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. They failed to advance Lopez from third base to home with one out in the second inning. When Graham Pauley hit an RBI double in the fifth, he was stranded on a line-out the following at-bat. The pinch hitter who came in for Pauley struck out to strand Liam Hicks at second base.

The game was the Pirates to lose after Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in the fourth and O’Neal Cruz hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to lead 4-0. 

Connor Gillespie allowed four runs on four hits with four strikeouts in five innings, and Liam Hicks, who was acquired as a Rule 5 draft pick, made his first MLB start at catcher. He went 0-for-3 with a walk. 

Pirates’ Bailey Falter will match up with Marlins’ 25-year-old right-hander Valente Bellozo on Saturday.