Big second inning, career start from Cody Poteet lead Marlins to series-clinching win over Mets
The Miami Marlins’ lone run-scoring inning on Sunday, just like the two innings in which they scored the night before, started with a Brian Anderson single. He poked a Jordan Yamamoto cutter through the left side of the New York Mets’ infield to lead off the second inning.
Eight batters and five Marlins runs later, the inning ended.
And with the way rookie Cody Poteet was pitching, that second-inning outburst was all the Marlins needed to beat the Mets 5-1 at loanDepot park to take the three-game series. Miami (22-24) also beat the Mets 3-1 on Saturday on a walk-off home run from Garrett Cooper after dropping the series opener 6-5 in 12 innings on Friday.
The Marlins have now won five of their last seven games, including four of six against the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies — two of three teams ahead of them in the National League East standings. The Phillies come to Miami on Monday to start a four-game series.
“It’s been a good time,” Anderson said. “We’re just trying to keep this momentum going, keep facing these guys in the NL East, keep playing good teams and keep competing.”
Anderson got the Marlins on track in the second inning. His teammates followed.
The rest of the Marlins’ second inning after Anderson’s leadoff single unfolded as follows:
▪ Cooper drew a full-count walk and Sandy Leon was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Magneuris Sierra struck out looking to end a nine-pitch at-bat for the first out.
▪ Poteet recorded his first career MLB hit and RBI with a slow-rolling groundball down the third base that scored Anderson. According to Statcast, Poteet’s dribbler had an 18-percent hit probability. 1-0 Marlins. Bases still loaded with one out.
▪ Jazz Chisholm Jr. lifts a cutter into shallow center field. Cooper scores. 2-0 Marlins. Bases still loaded with one out.
▪ Miguel Rojas grounds into a fielder’s choice that, coupled with a Francisco Lindor throwing error, allows Leon and Poteet to score and Rojas to get to second base. 4-0 Marlins with two outs.
▪ Jesus Aguilar caps scoring with a line drive to center field that scores Rojas. 5-0 Marlins.
“It was nice to get some runs early,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Anderson, who had two hits on Sunday and is riding a seven-game hit streak, also provided a pair of inning-opening sparks for the Marlins in their walk-off win on Saturday. He hit singles in both the seventh and ninth innings that day. Corey Dickerson drove Anderson home in the seventh with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Cooper sealed the win with his home-run to left-center field.
Anderson is hitting .458 with five runs scored, five RBI and just four strikeouts over the last seven games
“Really just trying to find barrels and just put the ball in play with some authority,” Anderson said, “and let the balls fall where they may.”
Poteet shoring up rotation
On Sunday, the five-run second provided the Marlins more than enough run support after Poteet dazzled in his third career MLB start.
The 26-year-old right-hander threw a career-high seven shutout innings on Sunday, holding the Mets (21-19) to three hits and no walks while striking out four. He threw 93 pitches (58 strikes) and retired the final 14 batters he faced before giving way to the bullpen for the final two innings.
John Curtiss held the Mets to one run in the eighth. Anthony Bender handled the ninth.
“I’m getting a better feel for it,” said Poteet, the Marlins’ fourth-round pick in 2015. “Being out there on a big-league mound, it’s been very special for me. I’ve been able to keep, for the most part, my emotions under control. Hopefully, I’m able to give them some stability out there.”
Poteet mixed in a heavier dose of his secondary pitches on Sunday compared to his previous two starts. He threw 28 changeups, 17 sliders and 11 curveballs against the Mets compared to just 37 four-seam fastballs. He used his fastball 55.6 percent of the time in his first two starts.
Through three MLB starts, Poteet has a 1.06 ERA and has held opponents to 10 hits and two walks over 17 innings while striking out 13 batters. He’s continuing to make his case to round out the back end of Miami’s starting rotation that has been dealing with injuries and inconsistency outside of its top three starters of Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers.
“Cody has kind of solidified that fourth [spot] where it’s been good outing after good outing,” Mattingly said. “We’re starting to have that confidence that he’s going to keep you in the game.”
As for the fifth spot? Elieser Hernandez is close to returning from his right biceps injury after throwing a pair of rehab assignment starts. He’s eligible to return to the club as early as June 3.
This story was originally published May 23, 2021 at 3:48 PM.
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