The Marlins and Jose Urena Get 5-3 Win in Big Apple

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena continued to show he can be an ace for the organization next season with a 5-3 win over the New York Mets in the first of a four-game series.

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena evidently has saved his best for the last part of the 2018 season. Once again, the veteran was on fire in a 5-3 win over the New York Mets on Tuesday to grab the first of a four-game series in the Big Apple.

If Urena is proving he can be the dominant pitcher the team thought he would be, then he is doing a really good job of making all the right moves at the right time.

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro might have said it best. Urena has been as good as any pitcher in the National League his last three outings.

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“A month ago, Jose Urena was the subject of scrutiny for plunking Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch. The incident resulted in the Marlins right-hander being slapped with a six-game suspension.“Since then, Urena has pitched as if he is on a mission. The right-hander has attacked the strike zone, and made steady progress in each outing. It was more of the same on Tuesday night as he allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings in the Marlins’ 5-3 victory over the Mets at Citi Field.”

The form is the same if not better for a pitcher who paced this team with 14 wins last season. It also makes you wonder if the team was better at scoring runs early on this campaign, could Urena have another double-digit win season.

The past is just that and Urena is focusing on what is in front of him, pitching well and seeking to leave his best work as his message when he becomes arbitration eligible after the season is over.

“When we’re attacking those hitters, we’re getting people out in three or four pitches,” Urena said. “We’re trying to take advantage of it, and it helps go deeper into the game.”

Urena’s timing couldn’t be any better. Starter Dan Straily is now likely lost for the remainder of the season with an oblique injury and could have pitched for the last time in a Marlins uniform last week.

If opportunity knocks where the 27-year-old pitcher – who celebrates his birthday today – can assume the ace of the staff role he was given by starting Opening Day, then he appears more than ready to do that.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly agreed Urena is playing his best baseball now and outdueled the Mets starter Jacob deGrom.

“I think he’s throwing a lot of strikes with his fastballs,” Mattingly said. “He’s keeping the ball down, and letting it just move. His breaking ball has got a little better shape right now. He’s got some depth to that pitch.”