In essence, he is one out short of firing a three-hit shutout out of the bullpen. Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis all had three hits each.
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Cain was smoother at the onset, but ended up allowing five runs in five innings.
RHP Dan Haren escaped with a no-decision on Wednesday against the Giants, lasting just 5 2/3 innings and allowing 10 hits and four runs, three earned. Fernandez will make his first start since the Tommy John surgery, July 2.
Once again, their pitchers had shut down the feeble New York Mets.
He was the Marlins’ opening day starter a year ago, but his ascent was interrupted by an elbow ligament injury that required reconstructive surgery.
Cain underwent elbow surgery previous year and has been sidelined this season with a strained flexor tendon. Appropriatedly, so his triumphant return to the Marlins in a rollicking matinee revival Thursday at Marlins Park. It’s called a three run home run and the Marlins hit one in each game.
On the mound, Fernandez made a tentative start, giving up two runs in the first inning before settling down to pitch six solid frames.
Shawn Kelley (1-2) had four strikeouts in two scoreless innings and Craig Kimbrel earned his 20th save in 21 chances. Cain’s velocity ranged from 90-91 miles per hour so this isn’t the same ace that excelled from 2009-12.
No, Justin Bour’s given first name is not Giancarlo. But the Giants got on the board on Buster Posey’s sacrifice fly, and Brandon Belt’s flare to left gave Cain a two-run lead before he threw a pitch.
“It’s good to see him get the barrel head out and drive the ball the way he’s capable”. Throughout his career, Fernandez has proven to be a strikeout artist, baffling hitters at the plate. Corey Kluber struck out 14 over eight innings.
Best of all for the Marlins, they welcomed back their own accomplished starting pitcher on Thursday. But the wheels came apart with two out in the fifth as Cleveland chased Moore with three runs to take a 4-2 lead. It was the only pitch that he threw that graded out better for the hitters during the start in terms of linear weights runs; Brooks Baseball calculates the fastball may have been worth 1.4 runs worse than average this start.
The Giants gave the Marlins pitcher a little trouble from the beginning. Bour’s been on a tear recently, having homered in three straight games and driven in seven over that same time span. He’s hitting a healthy.263/.340/.496 this season, though the return of Michael Morse figures to at least somewhat chip into his at-bats. “He got a pitch to hit and showed his athletic ability”. Corbin, 25, relied on his command in 2013, and so far is struggling to regain his precision in rehab starts, issuing seven walks in 17 minor league innings.
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BALTIMORE – The Texas Rangers used a different approach to beat the Baltimore Orioles and win a series for the first time since mid-June. He boasts a 2.55 career ERA and barring re-injury, is on track to regain his elite form. It nearly seems as though Fernandez was amped up in a major way for the start and was throwing as hard as he ever did before. “To have him come back, and the energy that he brings inside our clubhouse and when he’s on the mound, certainly, inside the ballpark as well”.
