Nobody expects the Miami Marlins to compete this season. With one of the weakest rosters in the NL, the team is on a rebuilding mode although they have some intriguing players on both sides of the ball that could be considered long-term pieces. However, they are playing like real contenders in their first two games.
Just ask the Colorado Rockies.
Coming off a huge 10-1 win on Opening Day where the Marlins’ offense looked as sharp as it has been in recent memory, Miami came through and won their second straight against the Rockies. This time, it was a hard-fought 4-3 win where the bullpen carried the situation in the late innings. The relievers backed up an excellent start by Nathan Eovaldi and held the lead in what ended up being a thriller at Marlins Park.
Eovaldi went six innings and allowed only two runs and six hits while walking one and fanning six. He left with a 4-2 lead and the bullpen was simply magnificent to hold the advantage. Despite the fact that Mike Dunn allowed an RBI double to Carlos Gonzalez in the eighth, Carlos Marmol, AJ Ramos and Steve Cishek finished it effectively to give Miami their second win in equal number of games.
Nobody expects Miami to continue playing at this level throughout an entire 162-game schedule. However, the team looks ready to turn the corner and they surely have the pitching depth to compete against top offensive lineups. Tonight’s game was the perfect example.