Miami Marlins drop opener to San Diego Padres but might get reinforcements soon
.JPG "Miami Marlins’ Jesus Aguilar, right, reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, next to San Diego Padre catcher Austin Nola on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)")
The Miami Marlins’ offensive woes — a consistent theme this season that has been even more prevalent since returning to play after the All-Star Break — were on display again Thursday in a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres to begin a four-game series at loanDepot park.
The Marlins, who are now 41-56 on the season, had just four hits, were shutout until the seventh inning, struck out 10 times, went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and were held to three runs or fewer for the seventh time in the last eight games.
Help, they hope, could be on the way soon, with rookie middle infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. hoping his injured list stint will be the minimum 10 days and third baseman Brian Anderson eligible to come off the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly didn’t give an exact timetable for either player, but Chisholm expects to be back on the field when the Marlins start their next homestand against the New York Yankees on July 30 — the first day he’s eligible to be activated.
“I feel like I’m ready to get back out there as soon as they let me,” Chisholm said pregame Thursday.
That’s encouraging news, especially with how bad things could have been.
Chisholm injured his left shoulder when he tried to make a diving, over-the-shoulder grab against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday to rob Bryce Harper of a hit. He briefly lied motionless in shallow right field before being tended to and walking off the field.
“It could have been way worse than it was, easily,” Chisholm said. “The doctor said if I hit the ground a little bit harder and that could have been it for the season.”
Luckily for Chisholm and the Marlins, the injury is minor and he’ll hopefully be available for the final two months of the season.
Chisholm took ground balls on Thursday for the first time since the injury. He used the first three days to let the swelling in his shoulder subside.
Next up? Chisholm said the tentative plan is for him to go on a rehab assignment when the Marlins go on the road for a two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chisholm is eligible to come off the IL on July 29, an off-day for the Marlins. Miami starts a seven-game home stand with a three-game series with the New York Yankees on July 30.
“It’s encouraging,” Mattingly said. “He came in a couple days later [after the injury] and said he was feeling good and gives us his prognosis — Dr. Jazz on when he’ll be ready. We’ll see what the trainers say but it is encouraging him being out there. I know he’s excited. He stopped by my office on the way in. It’s good that his healing is quick, but I’m sure we’ll be careful and let medical dictate when he’s ready.”
Chisholm is hitting .251 with 11 home runs, 11 stolen bases, 34 RBI and 38 runs scored over 70 games this season. He had one previous stint on the injured list for 16 games with a left hamstring strain. He also missed a week of games in late May with a right ankle sprain.
As for Anderson, he started a rehab assignment with Triple A Jackson last Friday and has played in five games there. He has been on the IL since May 24 with a left shoulder subluxation.
Bender opens
With the Marlins’ starting rotation still in flux, Miami started relief pitcher Anthony Bender as an opener for Thursday’s series opener with the Padres before turning to Jordan Holloway to give length out of the bullpen.
Bender, who had given up six earned runs over his previous six relief appearances heading into Thursday, threw a scoreless inning on 16 pitches to open the game. The highlight of the inning: striking out Fernando Tatis Jr., who check swung on an 82.4 mph slider with two strikes.
“We like his stuff,” Mattingly said pregame of using Bender as an opener, “and you’re trying to run through that gauntlet one time up top.”
Holloway gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks with one strikeout over 3 2/3 innings.
Zach Pop, Ross Detwiler, Andrew Bellatti, Anthony Bass, Steven Okert and David Hess threw the final 4 1/3 innings.
The Marlins optioned Nick Neidert to Triple A Jacksonville to make room for Holloway on the active roster.
More injury updates
▪ Right fielder/first baseman Garrett Cooper (left elbow strain) is still receiving treatment and not doing baseball activities.
▪ Right-handed pitcher Pablo Lopez (right rotator cuff) is still not throwing.
▪ Right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez (right quad strain) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Thursday.
▪ Right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet (right knee sprain) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday and is expected to move to live batting practice this weekend.
This story was originally published July 22, 2021 at 6:36 PM.
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