Boston Red Sox at Miami Marlins

Hours before Wednesday night’s 4-0 victory over the Red Sox at loanDepot park, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough wouldn’t reveal which relievers were unavailable for the series finale. After seeing how the game unfolded, it now makes sense. Due to the bullpen’s usage over the previous five games of the homestand and Pete Fairbanks’ injury, righty Victor Vodnik and lefties Dax Fulton and Patrick Monteverde were the only ones at McCullough’s disposal. Right-hander Ryan Gusto chose the perfect time to pick up his elusive first win as a Marlin, while starter Janson Junk came on in relief for a shorthanded bullpen to help Miami (68-66) avoid the sweep and remain four games behind San Diego for the final National League Wild Card with 28 games remaining. “That was what we went into tonight with,” McCullough said. “We threw a shutout, so credit to them and the guys behind them making plays. And Ryan set the tone.” Gusto went 5 2/3 innings but flirted with traffic throughout by hitting two batters, walking a season-high-tying three and permitting four hits (all singles). His greatest escape act came in the second, when he stranded the bases loaded after corralling a comebacker. In the sixth, Gusto allowed a leadoff single to Caleb Durbin before inducing a double play -- he recorded 12 groundouts on the evening -- to erase the runner. The ensuing hit-by-pitch and single, however, chased Gusto with runners on the corners. “I tried not to put any additional pressure on myself,” Gusto said of knowing how thin the bullpen was. “I think it's a bad thing that I was aware of it. Obviously, you are, right? That's unavoidable. But that's just not something you want to be thinking about in-game. You have to focus on making every pitch to the best of your ability, and getting outs really is what it comes down to. So you can't be worried too much about outside factors. But I was aware, of course.” Vodnik took over for Gusto and struck out Anthony Seigler looking on a slider that clipped the outside corner on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, putting Gusto in line for the victory.