Edward Cabrera flashes potential in first Marlins start of 2022. ‘You can see all the results’

The Miami Marlins got a good look at their present and future rotation to help take the sting out of sitting well below .500 to start June.

Two of Miami’s young, dynamic starting pitchers not only flashed explosive stuff they’ve shown it can work in a hitter’s park like Coors Field.

First, Pablo Lopez tossed six scoreless innings in Monday’s 7-1 loss to Colorado and then Edward Cabrera matched that in the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies in a 14-1 Marlins win on Wednesday.

Cabrera, one of Miami’s highest-ranked prospects, made his season debut with a career-high nine strikeouts and no-hit Colorado through five innings — all while pitching with a heavy heart.

“It’s a game I dedicate to my aunt who passed away a few days ago,” Cabrera said through an interpreter. “I always felt that she was there. She was with me during the whole game. So it was it was something very special for me.”

C.J. Cron got the first hit off Cabrera, a sharp single with one on in the sixth.

Cabrera’s control wasn’t always there; he walked four, hit two batters — one each to load the bases in the sixth. He also came up with the key pitch when needed, including a 95 mph fastball to Sam Hilliard to get a flyout to end the sixth.

Only two Colorado baserunners got past first base against him.

“ of the hard work that I’ve been putting during the offseason,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera’s outing was much anticipated after his major league debut last season.

“I’m back where I want to be at the big league level,” Cabrera said.

While Cabrera (1-0) was dominating the Rockies the Marlins’ lineup battered Colorado pitching with a season-high 21 hits, three each by Avisail Garcia, Garrett Cooper, Jesus Sanchez, Bryan De La Cruz and Jorge Soler. Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits, including a three-run homer.

Every starter got a hit in the first game.

It was a much-needed breakout for Miami’s offense, which managed just five hits in Monday’s 7-1 loss to the Rockies, and it continued into the nightcap. Miguel Rojas, Willians Astudillo and Sanchez hit homers in a traditional Coors Field battle.

The Rockies got three home runs from Brendan Rodgers in the nightcap, including a two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th off Cole Sulser (0-3) to pull out a 13-12 win.

The Marlins had 12 hits in the loss.

“You hardly ever get out of here without having to go through one of those,” manager Don Mattingly said. “It was one of those that just seemed like the outs were hard to come by.”

Sanchez’s blast went 460 feet to center, and while an impressive blast it wasn’t as deep as his 496-foot shot into the third deck Monday.

Trevor Rogers started the second game but couldn’t match Cabrera’s outing. He was done after getting two outs in the fourth inning, having given up five runs on five hits and walking five.

Cooper left the game in the fourth inning with right intercostal tightness but Mattingly doesn’t think it’s too serious.

“He felt like he could have kept going but it was almost like it didn’t seem to be worth it at that point,” Mattingly said. “So I think he’ll be okay.”

Wendle back to IL

Third baseman Joey Wendle was placed on the injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Tuesday, due to his nagging right hamstring.

Wendle felt tightness in the hamstring on a slide into second base Monday night and he took himself out of the game. Wendle’s return to the injured list comes a day after Brian Anderson was placed on the IL with lower back spasms.

“Andy is probably in a better spot than Joey right now,” Mattingly said before Wednesday’s first game.

This is Wendle’s second trip to the injured list in the last three weeks for the same issue. He was activated last Thursday after being sideline 13 days, but Mattingly doesn’t think the hamstring injury is too serious.

“He has good strength,” Mattingly said. “You see a guy that really does a hammy in a bad way, they can hardly walk. And he walks fine. He’s not having trouble with any of that type of stuff so you don’t feel like it’s major.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 12:50 PM.