Miami Marlins Lose Fourth Straight: 2019 Spring Training

The Miami Marlins “visited” the St. Louis Cardinals today at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The Cardinals scored off Miami Marlins starter José Ureña in each of the first two innings on their way to a 4-3 victory. Ureña struck out three and didn’t walk any batters, but surrendered four hits in 2 1/3 innings of work. This performance, plus his first appearance last week, have yielded a 2.250 WHIP over his first four innings of work. Thankfully, I don’t think that rate of walks and hits is sustainable.

The loss for the Marlins was their fourth-in-a-row, and puts them at 2-6 for the spring. Of course, the standings don’t count at all this time of the season. Here’s four other things we found out on Saturday.

JUPITER, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Isan Diaz #91 of the Miami Marlins poses for a portrait at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on February 22, 2018 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The Miami Marlins Will Run (and run) This Year

The Miami Marlins had stolen 11 bases in their first seven games of the spring. The club seems to have no problem pulling the trigger on steals. Noted non-speedsters Austin Dean and Brian Anderson each have a pair of steals already. There were a few incidents through the contest where it was clear that the Marlins were trying to run, but the only thing yielded with this game plan today was an Isan Diaz CS.

Peter O’Brien Finally Got a Hit

But O’Brien was notably bad in the field, on the base paths, and in his other at bat. He came into this contest having struck out seven times through his first 11 plate appearances this season, then struck out in the second.

In the bottom of the second, O’Brien had a bead on a fly ball out, then watched helplessly as the pill clanked impotently out of his glove.

In the fifth inning, O’Brien finally got the Miami Marlins in the hit-column with a leadoff single. He then got picked off first before JT Riddle even completed his at bat. In related news, Riddle also notched his first hit of the spring, with a two-out, two-RBI single in the sixth inning.

MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 01: Tayron Guerrero #56 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Marlins Park on September 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

One-two Punch of Romo and Guerrero Could Be Formidable

In his first appearance of the spring, Sergio Romo struck out the side in a perfect inning. In today’s game, he struck out two and walked a batter, but didn’t give up a run or even a hit.

Tayron Guerrero also pitched a perfect inning in his first appearance, with one strikeout. Like Romo in today’s game, Guerrero pitched a hitless, one-walk inning. The 2019 campaign is shaping up to be a good one for the Miami Marlins bullpen.

Good Times, Bad Times

Defensively, today’s Miami Marlins were both feast and famine. Isan Diaz ranged far to his left to make a stab at a Drew Robinson grounder, with two runners in scoring position. Diaz dove for the ball, got to his feet, and relayed to first baseman Martin Prado for the out. Brian Anderson also continued to make solid plays at the hot corner.

On the other hand, there was the O’Brien play (which was not an error, btw). Austin Dean dropped an easy fly ball in left field, and pitcher Austin Brice threw away a pick off attempt in the fourth inning. Brice has made two errors in two chances so far this spring.

Next. Austin Dean, 2019 NL Rookie of the Year. dark

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