Aguilar’s hustle, Rogers’ dominance and a Marlins shutout win over the Brewers
Jesus Aguilar did what he needed to do in the fourth inning Monday night at American Family Field: He got on base. Just accomplishing that feels like a feat at times against the Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes this season.
What the Miami Marlins’ first baseman did next was a sight to see — and helped spark the Marlins’ offense.
Aguilar, whose low line drive to center was just the Marlins’ second hit of the game, made his way from first to home on a Corey Dickerson double that bounced off Billy McKinney’s glove as he dove to make a play in left field.
Marlins third-base coach Trey Hillman signaled for Aguilar to hustle around third to complete the 270-foot trip around the bases that broke open a scoreless game and gave the Marlins their first run in an eventual 8-0 win. Aguilar beat out the relay throw as he slid home.
According to Statcast, it took Aguilar 9.92 seconds to get from first to home and 3.70 seconds for the final 90 feet. He had a 26.8 foot secondary lead on his way to second and had a max sprint speed of 25.5 feet per second (27 feet per second is considered MLB average).
Aguilar now has hits in five of his last six games. He hit a two-run home run in each of the final three games against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
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Another Rogers gem
Aguilar’s first run was all the support Miami (10-12) needed after yet another dominant performance from rookie left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers.
The 23-year-old threw six shutout innings on Monday, striking out seven while scattering six hits (all singles) and not walking a single batter.
He induced inning-ending double plays in each of the first three innings, struck out the side in the fourth and effectively mixed all three of his pitches to generally induce weak contact (the average exit velocity from Milwaukee hitters against Rogers on Monday was 86.4 mph).
All three of the Marlins’ shutout victories this year have come with Rogers on the mound.
Five starts into the season, Rogers has a 1.29 ERA with 38 strikeouts against 10 walks over 28 innings. Opponents are hitting just .188 against him.
All that Jazz
Marlins rookie second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who entered Monday 0 for his last 12 with six strikeouts, reached base in two of his three at-bats against Burnes.
He led off the game with a single and stole both second and third before being stranded.
Chisholm then led off the sixth with a ground-rule double, the first of five consecutive Marlins hits that chased Burnes from the game.
The Marlins tallied eight hits against Burnes in five-plus innings — matching the total number of hits he had given up in his first four starts of the season combined.
Miami scored four runs in the inning, all charged to Burnes (one unearned).
The rest of the rally unfolded as follows: A Miguel Rojas single to center scored Chisholm. An Aguilar single to right moved Rojas to second. A Garrett Cooper double to left-center scored Rojas and a Dickerson groundball single to right scored Aguilar. Cooper scored on a failed pickoff attempt by Brewers reliever Drew Rasmussen after Burnes left the game.
Other game highlights
▪ Dickerson had three hits, including a solo home run to center in the eighth.
▪ Cooper, who was 1 for his last 15 heading into Monday, hit a home run in the ninth to give him his third multi-hit game of the season.
▪ Jose Devers recorded his first career RBI with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Injury updates
The Marlins on Monday gave the latest update to their injury report ahead of their three-game series with the Brewers, and it was mostly good news.
The full, running update:
Third baseman Brian Anderson (left oblique strain) resumed light baseball activities and is progressing well. The earliest Anderson can be taken off the injured list is May 1, when the Marlins are facing the Washington Nationals to close out this three-city, 10-game road trip.
Center fielder Starling Marte (left rib fracture) is still experiencing discomfort in left side, which will need to subside before he can return to baseball activities. There is no timetable.
Right-handed pitcher Jorge Guzman threw from 60 feet without issue on Sunday after being shut down last week.
Right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez is throwing from 105 feet without issue and is expected to start throwing bullpen sessions this week.
Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez is throwing from 60 feet with no issue while rehabbing in Jupiter.
Edward Cabrera is throwing from 105 feet with no issue while rehabbing in Jupiter.
There was no update on catcher Jorge Alfaro, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain. Alfaro is not on the road trip with the Marlins. Marte and Anderson are with the team.
Until they are cleared to play, the Marlins will continue to use who they have to fill spots.
Jon Berti started at third base for a seventh consecutive game. Adam Duvall started in center field for a second consecutive game with Corey Dickerson and Garrett Cooper in left and right field, respectively. Lewis Brinson and Magneuris Sierra have also played in center field since Marte’s injury.
Sandy Leon is catching as he splits time with Chad Wallach.
Left-handed pitcher Daniel Castano is slated to start Tuesday’s game against the Brewers and the Marlins are still weighing options on how to round out their starting pitching rotation that also includes Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Rogers.
This story was originally published April 26, 2021 at 6:24 PM.
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