Miami Marlins Positives in Defeat to Astros

The Miami Marlins lost to the Houston Astros by a 6-4 final score today, with 2,823 in attendance at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Although the Miami Marlins were unable to sustain their winning streak to a seventh game on Friday afternoon, not everything that happens in a loss is a negative. Especially when that loss is in Spring Training.

Demetrius Sims had his first ever major league Spring Training plate appearance, and collected a one-out double. He later scored on a Christian Lopes RBI-single.

Magneuris Sierra, in today’s game a designated hitter, basically manufactured a run nearly by himself in the first inning. After an infield single, he stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher on the play. He then scored on Francisco Cervelli‘s sacrifice fly for an early 1-0 Marlins lead. Later in the game he hit another single to finish two-for-three.

A night after making his spring debut, prospect Jesus Sanchez launched a two-out, two-run homer over the right field fence in the bottom of the ninth inning to close the Astros lead to two runs.

In his first Spring Training appearance, Caleb Smith struck out three in two scoreless innings of work. It wasn’t without difficulty, as Smith walked a pair and also gave up a hit.

Brandon Kintzler came in to pitch the third, but walked four and surrendered a hit without recording an out, allowing two runs in the process. Yimi Garcia relieved him, and worked two solid perfect innings despite inheriting three runners. He struck out two and got 14-of-20 pitches over the plate.

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Tommy Eveld pitched a perfect seventh, and Ryne Stanek struck out two in a flawless ninth.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, Elieser Hernandez also had a less-than-great showing, allowing two walks, four hits, and four earned runs in his two innings of work.

At the plate, a few Marlins had more than a little trouble with Astros pitching. Matt Kemp, Sean Reynolds, Jerar Encarnacion, and Lewin Diaz combined to go 0-for-8 from the plate with eight strikeouts. Marlins hitters struck out a total of 14 times in the game.

But it’s really ok. Spring Training is to shake off the cobwebs and to see who’s really ready for the big time. Most of the players who had a bad day have also had good days to speak of, and we’re only a week into it. Keep checking here for the latest in Marlins news.