Down On The Farm Marlins Report: Andrew Heaney, Adam Conley have Dominant Starts Sunday

Mar 1, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Andrew Heaney (70) throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the Jupiter Hammerheads and Greensboro Grasshoppers off on Easter Sunday, all the attention was on two of the Miami Marlins top starting pitching prospects. Both Adam Conley and Andrew Heaney turned in dominant starts on Sunday, each taking a step towards an eventual major league callup.

Triple-A:

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (8-9) @ New Orleans Zephyrs (6-12)

Loss 0-2

Adam Conley, SP: 7.0 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 8 SO, BB

Josh Rodriguez, 2B: 1-for-3, BB

Conley was the hard luck loser in this excellent pitched game. He probably could not have done more on the afternoon, allowing just three baserunners (2 hits, 1 walk) in his seven innings of work. He did not allow an earned run and struck out 8 hitters for his second straight outing. Conley retired the final 17 batters he faced in the game, before giving way to Henry Rodriguez.

Not much to write about the Z’s offense performance in this one. The Sox had Christian Friedrich on the mound and he did what many starters have done to their offense this year, shut them out. Friechrich allowed just two baserunners (1 walk, 1 single) in his seven innings of work. The Z’s now own a .220/.278/.324 slash line for the season, with Jake Marisnick leading the way in disappointment.

Double-A:

Pensacola Blue Wahoos (7-10) @ Jacksonville Suns (8-9)

Win 5-4

Andrew Heaney, SP: 7.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 9 SO

J.T. Realmuto, C: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB (4)

Alfredo Silverio, LF: 1-for-3, 2B (2), R, 2 BB

Heaney just needed 87 pitches to get through a season high seven innings on Sunday. Heaney struck out a career high nine, didn’t walk anyone in his outing, and only allowed three hits. On the season, Heaney has 25 strikeouts to just three walks in 24 1/3 innings of work. He has posted a 1.48 ERA as a result of those amazing peripherals.

Suns’ catcher Realmuto has been hot of late, collecting three more hits and three more stolen bases on the day. Realmuto is 12 for his last 20, with 3 walks and 3 doubles in his last 5 games. Already a strong defensive catcher, Realmuto could prove to be a very valuable piece of the next Marlins playoff team, if he continues to hit the way he has of late.

Sunday maybe the perfect example on why wins and losses don’t matter as stats for pitchers. Heaney and Conley were both dominant, but didn’t get the exact result they were looking for. The Suns won, but struggled more than they should have and the Z’s offense was not able to generate anything.

The Hammerheads and Grasshoppers return to action on Monday. Here are the scheduled pitching matchups for the Marlins’ affiliates on Monday:

Triple-A: 

COL: Christian Bergman (9.39 ERA)
NEW: Elih Villanueva (3.60 ERA)

Double-A:

PNS: Robert Stephenson (5.56 ERA)
JAX: Angel Sanchez (4.20 ERA)

Single-A Advanced:

FTM: Alex Wimmers (0.93 ERA)
JUP: Josh Hodges (11.48 ERA)

Single-A:

TBA