NL Worst of the Night: Marlins' Randy Choate Gives Up a 4-Spot to Red Sox

Highlighting a negative performance seems like kind of a buzzkill the morning after we had a perfect game in baseball. But pointing out the Worst of the Night in each league is something we do most every day—and Randy Choate of the Miami Marlins put up a stinker that we just can't ignore. 

Choate took over for Chad Gaudin in the eighth inning Wednesday night as the Marlins faced the Boston Red Sox. Gaudin gave up a leadoff double to Nick Punto, so Choate already had a runner in scoring position to contend with.

If that runner on second base started a fire, Choate unleashed a gallon of gasoline onto the flame.

Choate gave up four consecutive singles, resulting in three runs scoring. In his defense, Choate did have to pitch to Boston's three best hitters in Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. But he was obviously expected to get at least one of those guys out. Instead, Choate turned a close game into a near-blowout, with the Red Sox's lead going from 4-2 to 7-2. 

One more of Choate's baserunners scored on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia sacrifice fly allowed by Ryan Webb. That gave him a line of four runs and four hits allowed without recording a single out.

It was a stunning result for a pitcher that had been one of Ozzie Guillen's best relievers this season.

The meltdown sent Choate's ERA skyrocketing from 0.48 to 2.41. Choate had only allowed one earned run in his previous 31 appearances. Prior to Wednesday, he had pitched 21 consecutive outings without giving up an earned run.

Given Choate's performance up until this point, it's highly doubtful that this implosion will put him in Guillen's doghouse. Besides, Guillen doesn't have that many dependable relievers to put out there. 

With Choate pitching the past two nights, it seems likely that he'd get a break on Thursday. But Guillen and Choate might want to forget this outing as quickly as possible and get him back on the mound. Choate has pitched on three consecutive days four times this season. Will he do it for a fifth time in the series finale with the Red Sox? 

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