Miami Marlins Lose, 3-0 to Cardinals, Then Lose Rest of Spring

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Jose Urena #62 of the Miami Marlins looks on during the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 23, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Jose Urena #62 of the Miami Marlins looks on during the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 23, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins have been nothing if not entertaining this spring training.

Closing up shop at 12-6-2, the Miami Marlins officially take second place in the tough Grapefruit League, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by one game.

Of course it didn’t really count, but it may be the last baseball that Miami Marlins fans, or indeed all of baseball, see in quite some time.

José Ureña started for the Marlins, and showed without a doubt that he’s ready for a rotation slot whenever this season actually gets underway. He lowered his spring ERA to 1.29 and allowed only one hit in five innings of work, walking one and striking out three. He put 38-of-59 pitches over the plate.

Miami Marlins
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Jose Urena of #62 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 25, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, Miami’s offense couldn’t do anything with it off St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright. A Matt Joyce second-inning double and a fifth-inning Chad Wallach single were the only Marlins players to have any success off the tall right-hander. He struck out three and put 52-of-73 in the strike zone.

Miami Marlins
JUPITER, FLORIDA – MARCH 09: Chad Wallach #17 of the Miami Marlins. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Josh A. Smith took the loss in a disastrous sixth inning. He hit Dylan Carlson to lead off the inning. Carlson scored one pitch later on a Justin Williams double, then Smith walked Tommy Edman. Edmundo Sosa moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt, then Dennis Ortega brought them both home with a single to set the score at 3-0.

Riley Mahan added a sixth inning double, and Joyce got his second hit of the game in the seventh inning with a single off reliever John Gant, who finished with the victory. That was all the offense the Marlins had to speak of when it was all said and done.

Miami Marlins
SARASOTA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 29: Drew Steckenrider #71 of the Miami Marlins. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

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Drew Steckenrider came in to pitch a perfect eighth, striking out a batter and lowering his spring ERA to 12.27. Brad Boxberger whiffed a pair in a perfect ninth inning.

During the first few innings of the game, Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of the remainder of spring training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regular season was also postponed for a minimum of two weeks, as well as WBC qualifying games.

And that’s everything we really know as far as when we’re getting baseball next. Coronavirus has made major league baseball a little less important in the grand scheme of things. We’ll keep you posted on all developments having to do with the Miami Marlins. Thanks for reading, and stay safe.

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