Top of Marlins lineup unproductive in series-opening loss

[Kevin Barral]

The Marlins took an early lead thanks to the bottom of their lineup, but there weren't enough contributions from the rest of the team.

MIAMI, FL—In a bullpen game that the Marlins entered with low expectations, Anthony Maldonado made his major league debut on Friday and impressed over three shutout innings. He was followed by various relievers who only gave up a total of three runs to the Washington Nationals. All-in-all, the Marlins offense only scored one run and the top four hitters in the lineup didn't generate a base hit. The 3-1 loss dropped the Marlins to 6-21 on the season.

Prior to the beginning of the game, Schumaker noted that about nine of the players were out on the field getting early work. "We're doing different types of drills, machine and different type of drills...we're doing everything and it's not lack of effort. Those guys are putting in the effort and trying and the care factors are there and that's what I think is more frustrating."

After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a Nick Fortes RBI single, driving in Vidal Bruján who had a multi-hit night, the Marlins would be shut out throughout the rest of the game. Hitters one through four in the lineup—Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Josh Bell—combined to go 0-for-14 at the plate. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker placed the blame on the lack of offense.

"We scored one run," said Schumaker following the game. "It's tough when we're scoring one run and putting real pressure on the bullpen to throw scoreless inning after scoreless inning."

In the top of the eighth inning, with the ballgame tied at one apiece, the Marlins went with Calvin Faucher. Entering the game, Faucher had not given up a run through five appearances. Faucher put himself into a bases-loaded situation with one out. Joey Meneses drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single.

While Schumaker noted that Faucher uncharacteristically struggled with his control, he added, "that's not the reason why we lost, in my opinion. No offense tonight is what I think the story was of the game."

Outside of appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Anthony Maldonado had never started a professional game before. On Friday, Maldonado gave the Marlins three shutout innings, only allowing three hits and striking out two. Maldonado's slider immediately came into play generating six out of his seven whiffs. The right-hander went with a slider/sinker combo along with just one cutter that he threw for the seventh whiff of the night.

"I was trying to not let the moment get too big," said Maldonado following the game. "Taking the game pitch by pitch and really taking in the moment, and that's what a lot of veteran guys told me to do: just breathe and pitch. I thought I handled the emotions pretty well."

Following Maldonado, making his Marlins debut was Kyle Tyler, a minor league free agent signing who was called up last week. He gave the Marlins two-plus innings, giving up one run and striking out one. Going cutter-heavy with a taste of the curveball and only one slider thrown, Tyler pitched primarily to contact, inducing five ground balls and one pop fly.

For the Nationals, Trevor Williams went five innings and lowered his ERA to 2.70. Three Washington relievers combined to strike out seven Marlins over four scoreless innings.

The Marlins will look to rebound on Saturday as Edward Cabrera takes the mound against Nationals rookie Mitchell Parker. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m.

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[Slacker Mills]

Moving up baserunners by sacrifice bunt is a lost art apparently. So is scoring runs, at least for the Marlins. There is only so much a manager can do other than setting a lineup and changing pitchers. The managers that have always impressed me most are those who take advantage of a lead off hit or walk by having the next hitter drop down a bunt.

As far as bunting goes, the Marlins have at least four regulars who should be bunting for hits as well. Chisholm, Gordon, Brujan and Anderson could all help their averages by chalking up a couple bunt hits each week.

The entire lack of focus on small ball at a time there simply isn't any long ball, leaves me shaking my head.

 

 

 

 

[Slacker Mills]

I will add another handicap the Marlins are surrendering every night. Most of the teams the Marlins have faced have been pretty selective about the pitches they swing at. That results in plenty of walks. Marlin hitters, up and down the lineup, hack at everything. The fact that the Marlins are dead last in baseball when it comes to drawing free passes reflects directly on the coaching staff.

[Ely Sussman]

2 hours ago, Slacker Mills said:

I will add another handicap the Marlins are surrendering every night. Most of the teams the Marlins have faced have been pretty selective about the pitches they swing at. That results in plenty of walks. Marlin hitters, up and down the lineup, hack at everything. The fact that the Marlins are dead last in baseball when it comes to drawing free passes reflects directly on the coaching staff.

Dead last in walks, first by a mile in hitting grounders (which will I investigate further in an article soon). Crippling combination for any offense.

[Slacker Mills]

The many grounders are a function of swinging at pitches out of the zone and a refusal to hit to the opposite field.