Sep/061
Postgame: Reds 5, Marlins 1
Marlin’s Mermaid’s break it down between innings Marlins Mermaid’s
The Marlins figure to have one of baseball’s most talented starting rotations next season, but right-hander Ricky Nolasco serves as a reminder that their young pitchers still have much to learn.
Before Anibal Sanchez and Josh Johnson started to blossom, Nolasco was the first Marlins starter to win 10 games. That was more than a month ago. Not long after that, the rookie started a slide that ended Thursday night in Florida’s 5-1 loss to the Reds.
In his final start of the season, Nolasco (11-11, 4.82 ERA) allowed five runs in six innings. With the loss, the Marlins (77-82) will finish with their first losing season since 2002.
Nolasco hasn’t won since Aug. 13 at Arizona, with that win being his third in row to improve his record to 11-7.
But since then, Nolasco has struggled, going 0-4 in his past eight games. That included two relief appearances after he was relegated to bullpen duty when he was bothered by soreness behind his right knee.
“It’s a little frustrating,” he said of his finish, “but if you look at the big picture, I’m just going to try to build on it for next year. I can’t wait to get it going again. Hopefully, we can all build on this first year and everybody just gets better.”
Nolasco got off to a miserable start Thursday night, laboring through 41 pitches as the Reds scored two runs in the first inning.
The Marlins weren’t happy with home-plate umpire Larry Young’s strike zone. After Chris Denorfia and Scott Hatteberg led off the game with singles, Edwin Encarnacion walked to load the bases.
When Young called Nolasco’s first pitch to Adam Dunn a ball, catcher Matt Treanor argued so vehemently that he quickly was ejected.
“Fastest game I’ve ever played,” Treanor said. “Once in Little League my mom dragged me off the field before a game. Other than that, this was the quickest game I’ve been in.”
Treanor said Young’s strike zone helped put Nolasco in an early hole. Treanor complained to Young about pitches to Denorfia, the first batter of the game.
“Larry’s an older guy and I don’t think Matt Treanor is Pudge Rodriguez, by any means. I think that might have played into what happened,” Treanor said.
Miguel Olivo, who has been bothered by a sore left hand, replaced Treanor, and Nolasco struck out Dunn.
Javier Valentin hit a grounder to shortstop for a forceout, but second baseman Dan Uggla threw the ball away while trying for the double play, and Denorfia and Hatteberg scored.
Nolasco worked out of the inning without more damage and then cruised in the next four innings, looking like a different pitcher.
But in the sixth, with the Marlins trailing by one, he ran into trouble again.
Valentin singled with one out and advanced on a groundout. With two outs, Nolasco couldn’t end the inning. Juan Castro singled to right, scoring Valentin. Joe Borchard made a strong throw but it was up the line, allowing Castro to take second.
Brandon Phillips, the No. 8 hitter, was intentionally walked but pitcher Kyle Lohse hit a two-run double to put Cincinnati up 5-1.
Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single scored Hanley Ramirez in the first inning. Cabrera was 2-for-3 with a walk to raise his average to .340, four points behind NL leader Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates.
The Marlins loaded the bases on walks with two outs in the fourth when Amezaga hit a bouncer up the middle. Shortstop Juan Castro, in a nifty play, snagged the ball on the run and flipped it from his glove to second baseman Brandon Phillips for a force out to end the inning.
More photos from the game in the SporTech gallery. Enjoy!
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