News and Notes From LECOM Park: Miami Marlins ST

The second day of Spring Training went a little better for the Miami Marlins, but they still came up short.

With 4,449 in attendance at LECOM Park, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Nick Kingham delivered the first pitch to Miami Marlins leadoff hitter Lewis Brinson at 1:07 P.M. EST. Three hours and four minutes later, Ke’Bryan Hayes crushed his second homer of the day, a walkoff Grand Slam home run off Marlins relief pitcher Jose Quijada.

In between those two events, we had nine innings of eventful baseball. The game was not televised, but we can still put a few things together. Here’s four.

Dixon Machado and J.T. Riddle are in Midseason Form

Dixon Machado and J.T. Riddle each made highlight reel plays in their respective time at shortstop during the game. Also, Miami Marlins starting catcher Chad Wallach (who was one-for-three in the game) set off a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play in the bottom of the first, nailing Erik Gonzalez trying to take second.

Monte Harrison, Garrett Cooper, and Machado Each Got On Base At Least Twice

Monte Harrison hit a pair of singles, along with a strikeout, Garrett Cooper was two-for-two with an RBI and a walk, and Machado had a pair of RBI hits, on a sixth-inning double and a ninth-inning single.

Also finding success at the plate was Lewis Brinson, who connected on the Miami Marlins first deep ball of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Brian Miller hit a double in two at bats. In addition, Harold Ramirez, Isaac Galloway, Magneuris Sierra and Deven Marrero each also hit safely.

Victor Victor Mesa Was Injured

The prospect so nice they had to name him twice was 0-for-3 in the game. In the sixth inning. Victor Victor Mesa legged out a likely infield double play ball, beating the throw. He pulled up lame, with a strained right hamstring. Mesa is now listed day-to-day. It’s not expected to sideline him long-term.

Five of Seven Miami Marlins Pitchers Were Scored On

Trevor Richards allowed two runs in two innings, including a home run to Jung Ho Kang. Kang later victimized Hector Noesi in his Spring Training debut with a second home run. Noesi also struck two batters out to lead the Miami Marlins.

Nick Neidert surrendered a homer to Hayes in the sixth, and Dylan Lee allowed a run in the seventh on two hits and a walk.

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The only Marlins pitchers to escape unscathed were Drew Steckenrider and Tyler Kinley. Kinley pitched a perfect eighth, with two strikeouts to his credit.

In addition to the in-game events, the Miami Marlins had one player announce his retirement.

Minor league reliever Scott Squier announced his retirement. The 6’5″ lefty played five seasons in the Miami Marlins minor league system, going 28-18 with a 3.94 ERA over 122 contests. He had a 1.322 WHIP and 325 K’s in 401 2/3 innings. He had made it as far as triple-A for the first time last season, and walked three in 2 1/3 hitless scoreless innings in his only appearance, a 7-4 victory against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on July 8th.