Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Road Woes Continue for Miami Marlins

Good morning, Marlin Maniac readers and welcome to Morning Catch, the daily morning news and notes column from MarlinManiac.com on all Miami Marlins related news.

After being swept in New York and losing a series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Miami Marlins return home 11 games under .500 both for the season (30-41) and on the road (13-24).

Here is some Miami Marlins news from around the internet:

Marlins fall to rookie Michael Lorenzen, drop series to Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) — Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce hit two-run homers on Sunday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-2 victory and another successful series against the Miami Marlins.

The Reds took two of the three games, with the teams opening the series by trading shutouts. The Reds have won 11 of their last 15 games against the Marlins.

Cincinnati’s two hottest hitters carried them in the final game.

Frazier hit a two-run homer in the first inning off David Phelps (4-4), his fifth homer in the last five games. Frazier has 23 homers, two behind Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton for the major league lead. Fifteen of his homers have come at Great American Ball Park. (Read More Here)

Nicolino has storybook MLB debut

Joe Frisaro, Marlins.com

CINCINNATI — You couldn’t script an MLB debut much better than what transpired for Marlins lefty Justin Nicolino on Saturday night. The 23-year-old, making an emergency start, kept stringing together scoreless innings in Miami’s 5-0 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Everything fell into place for the rookie, who had his parents, fiancee and other relatives on hand. And making the evening even more special, he was matched against his close friend and former teammate, Anthony DeSclafani.

“Everyone wants to come up in their debut and throw up zeroes,” Nicolino said. “To go out there and do what I did tonight, against that team, it means a lot to me.” (Read More Here)

Marlins have decisions to make, but none involve major trades

Clark Spencer, Miami Herald

CINCINNATI — Though they sit 10 games under .500, the Marlins still have reasons for hope. They play in a weak division in which no team has caught fire. Jose Fernandez is expected to rejoin the rotation on July 2. And management still believes the lineup is much better than it has shown.

“The division is keeping us in it,” said Michael Hill, president of baseball operations. “But the bottom line is we have to win more games. We’ve got to get closer to .500 to really insert ourselves into the playoff picture. You can’t expect that the clubs above you will continue to tread water, keeping you in it.”

Despite their poor record, the Marlins found themselves only 6 1/2 games behind first-place Washington going into Sunday. That’s because the Nationals’ record is the worst of any division leader. (Read More Here)

Hyde: A family’s love fills Dee Gordon‘s story

Dave Hyde, Sun-Sentinel

It’s Father’s Day, and Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon has a famous baseball father, one who loved, cherished and strong-armed his son into a major-league career, as you’ll soon see.

But know this, too: Even on Father’s Day, it’s Mother’s Day for Gordon. Devona Strange’s initials are stitched on his glove. Her name is written on his cap, in his shoes …

“Her name’s everywhere around me,” he says. (Read More Here)

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