Marlins' bullpen woes continue as the offense goes cold

MIAMI, FL—Coming off their second win at home this season and looking for their first series win, the Marlins sent Trevor Rogers to the mound with a catcher he hadn't even spoken to before. Soon-to-be 28-year-old Jhonny Pereda out of Venezuela helped Rogers along to his best start of the season on Wednesday, but it was all for naught as the bullpen continued to struggle and the offense couldn't catch a break. 

Rogers got off to a fast start, inducing three straight groundouts to the left side of the infield in the first inning on just 15 pitches. Old friend Jorge Soler singled to lead off the second and came around to score on a double into the left field corner by Thairo Estrada.

Following the double, Rogers proceeded to retire the next eleven batters he faced before Tyler Fitzgerald led off the sixth inning with a single. The large left-hander got two quick outs, but on his 93rd pitch, Jung Hoo Lee grounded one softly to Tim Anderson for an infield single, putting two men on. Newly recalled Declan Cronin took over from there, allowed both runners to advance on a wild pitch and walked Soler to load the bases, but then got Matt Chapman to ground out to end the inning.

Trevor Rogers' final line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 93/59 pitches/strikes.  

Skip Schumaker on Rogers' outing and start to the season: "I'm really impressed with him. He's growing as a pitcher. He's been excellent this year." Through four starts in 2024, Rogers has a 3.92 ERA, a smidge lower than his 4.16 career mark.

On his outing, Trevor said, "Mel (Stottlemyre Jr.) and I talked after the game, and he said, 'I think you're finally pitching out there.' And it was kind of hard for me to hide my smile right there. It's something I've been working for. Not trying just to throw the ball, but pitch the ball." 

On the offensive side, there wasn't much to be proud of unless your name is Bryan De La Cruz. He continued his recent hot streak at the plate with a single in the first inning and a game-tying opposite-field home run in the sixth inning. His third home run of the season went 363 feet (103.7 mph off the bat).   

De La Cruz now has hits in 16 of the Marlins' first 19 games and six multi-hit games. He is riding a six-game hitting streak. 

Skip Schumaker on DLC's performance: "When he's using the whole field, he's a really good and dangerous hitter. You see what he can do against righties and lefties. I'm having a tough time not putting them at the top of the order so he gets that extra at-bat. He's done an excellent job so far this year."

Cronin and Anthony Bender allowed a run each in the seventh and eighth innings respectively to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. There would've been more damage done if not for the defensive stylings of Luis Arraez. In the seventh, he made a diving play on a ball up the middle, tapped the second base bag with his glove, and threw to first to complete a double play.  

The Marlins offense was unable to pick up the slack. The two pinch-hitters who reached base with one out in the bottom of the eighth were for naught as Arraez grounded into an inning-ending double play. 

In 2 hours and 24 minutes, in front of a crowd of 8,179 fans, the Marlins dropped their fifteenth game of the season, 3-1. 

Skip Schumaker on the dreadful start to the season: "The guys work and that's what's frustrating here. Everybody was out there taking ground balls at like 10 in the morning after a long night game. The coaches are scrambling, trying to get this thing right. And that's what's difficult because these guys are fighting their tails off and working and we're just not seeing the wins, and that's what's the most frustrating thing." 
 

Noah's Notes

• The Marlins have dropped all six series they've played in to begin the season. I'm told that's not good.
• After appearing to be favoring his right shoulder during all of his at-bats, Jazz Chisholm Jr. informed media that he has a bruise on his shoulder from when he crashed into the wall in St. Louis. He feels it every time he swings and needs to "wind it up like a jack-in-a-box" to get the soreness out. 
• The closed roof this afternoon ended a streak of five open-roof games, tied for the second-longest streak in loanDepot park history.
• On Thursday night, A.J. Puk is set to return from the flu to face the Chicago Cubs in Wrigleyville for the first of four games.
• Isaac Azout is on his way there as I type this.
• 'Til Tmrw!