Miami Marlins get runners on base but lack the big hit in series-finale loss to Giants
%20(3).JPG "Miami Marlins’ Joey Wendle, left, slides safely into third base next to San Francisco Giants third baseman Luke Williams (45) during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, April 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)")
The record isn’t where the Miami Marlins want it to be after their first series of the season.
Especially considering the way the games unfolded.
The Marlins lost two of three games against the San Francisco Giants to begin the 2022 season, capped by a 3-2 loss Sunday at Oracle Park after dropping the opener 6-5 in 10 innings on Friday and winning the middle game 2-1 on Saturday.
Three games against the defending National League West champions, a team that won 107 games last season and returned most of its core players, that were all decided by one run.
And while Marlins manager Don Mattingly pregame Sunday said the team isn’t looking for “consolation prizes for keeping games close,” his thoughts on his team three games — and two losses — into the season remained optimistic.
“I feel like it was a pretty good indication of what we can be,” Mattingly said of the team’s performance against the Giants despite the record.
On Sunday, the revamped offense had its best game of the young season but failed to get hits in key situations.
The Marlins (1-2) had 11 hits, including three from left fielder Jorge Soler and two apiece from center fielder Jesus Sanchez and shortstop Joey Wendle, but Miami went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, hit into two double plays and stranded eight runners on base.
Miami’s two runs came on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. sacrifice fly in the second and a Garrett Cooper hit by pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning — a plunking that resulted in a left wrist contusion and had Cooper exit the game and Miguel Rojas finish the game at first base.
(Cooper’s X-rays came back negative and he does not anticipate having to miss playing time.)
For the series, Miami went just 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position
“We went head to head with them and felt like we could have taken all three,” Cooper said, “but the timely hitting was not on our side this weekend.”
Trevor Rogers gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings before turning the game to the bullpen.
Next up
The Marlins continue their five-game road trip to start the season with a two-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday and Tuesday before returning to Miami for their home opener at loanDepot park on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Elieser Hernandez is slated to pitch Monday, with Jesus Luzardo capping the road trip on Tuesday.
This story was originally published April 10, 2022 at 6:49 PM.
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