Valente Bellozo struggles in Marlins’ crushing 14-2 loss against the Chicago Cubs
Valente Bellozo had pitched brilliantly in his past four outings. The 24-year old rookie had allowed just four earned runs through 24 innings. Bellozo had the fifth-lowest ERA of any pitcher through six career starts in Marlins history.
Bellozo doesn’t have the velocity that other star pitchers in the MLB possess, but his wide variety of off-speed pitches and pitch mirroring have allowed him to have success in the major leagues thus far.
But Saturday evening was one of Bellozo’s roughest outings so far. Through 4.2 innings, he allowed five earned runs — including three home runs — and struck out just one batter.
“[He was] behind the count a lot. [He had] five walks, [when] he had seven or eight walks the previous 30 something innings,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. So behind the count a lot and they didn’t miss the fastball at the top. He was hit hard at the top of the zone.”
The first home run Bellozo gave up to outfielder Seiya Suzuki hit the top of the zone — and at the location that he wanted it — but Suzuki was able to crush the ball anyway.
“Yeah that’s [where] we wanted [it]. Tip the cap and let’s go to the next guy,” Bellozo said after the game.
But on the other two home runs — another to Suyuki and one to Pete Crow-Armstrong — the Mexican pitcher admits he missed his location.
“The other [Suyuki] home run was middle-middle and we’re in the big leagues. So if it’s middle-middle, they’re gonna crush it,” Bellozo said.
He felt relatively good when the game started, but soon realized that his mechanics began faltering — particularly his delivery.
“I think I need to see the videos tomorrow and the next [few] days and be ready for the next [outing],” Bellozo said. “Sometimes it’s good days and other ones you’re off and that’s it.”
While Bellozo struggled, his teammates did not do too much to help him. The bullpen gave up seven earned runs — not counting Vidal Brujan’s two earned runs — and the offense only generated four hits in the Marlins (46-83) 14-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs (65-65).
Certainly it wasn’t all bad for Bellozo, either. He got out of bases-loaded jams in the second and fourth innings to prevent the Cubs from scoring even more runs.
“I think it’s the same mind-set [I always have]: attack the zone and make them swing,” Bellozo said.
While this was not his best outing, Bellozo has still been the best starting pitcher who has played meaningful time on the Marlins this season. Coming into Saturday’s game, he sported a 2.45 ERA and limited the number of barrels opponents had against him.
Plus his struggles were compounded by the fact that the Marlins bullpen has been hammered with injuries, meaning he could not be pulled earlier despite his performance.
“You don’t want to see a position player ever pitch. That means you’re in a bad spot,” Schumaker said. “We’re in a bad spot. We have blown through this bullpen again and it’s just really challenging to try to get through a game.”
For the rest of the season, the Marlins starting pitchers will need to pitch for extended periods of time, allowing fans, the front office and coaches to see who will have potential to stick around for the rebuild.
This And That
Left-handed reliever Andrew Nardi was placed on the 15-day IL with a left elbow muscle injury according to the team
The team recalled George Soriano was Triple A Jacksonville
Schumaker said after the game that Xavier Edwards MRI had “good results”, but that the Marlins shortstop still “feels it a bit” in his lower back. Edwards got hurt in the third inning of Friday’s game against the Cubs, and the results will help determine whether he needs to go on the IL or not.
Third baseman Connor Norby hit his first home run in a Marlins uniform during the fourth inning.
Infielder David Hensley hit his first home run of the season during the fifth inning.
With a depleted bullpen, the Marlins decided to throw infielder Vidal Brujan on the mound in the ninth inning.