Game Summary
The Marlins jump Leahy for an early 2-0 with death by a thousand cuts singles with too many walks sprinkled in. The Cardinals come out swinging against Junk (literally and figuratively), but muster only a weak single against him. Leahy labors through 5 innings, giving up 8 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 4 runs. Not his best day. The getaway Cardinal lineup musters but 4 hits enroute before a ninth solo HR by Herrera avoids a shutout. The getaway lineup was not particularly sharp defensively, either. On
the bright side, the Cardinal bullpen navigated 3 IP without giving up a run or a walk. That was pretty much the bright spot of the day.
Line-up (and roster) machinations
- An early start today, noon Eastern.
- A getaway day line-up today, if there ever was one. For both sides.
- Leahy takes the mound for the Cardinals. Ironically, Junk takes the mound for the Marlins. Queue the jokes.
- Burleson gets a day. Gorman into the three hole and playing third.
- Urias is the back-up first baseman, it turns out. Hitting clean-up.
- Winn gets a day, too. Saggese in at short.
- Walker gets a day, too. Church in right, Fermin in left.
- No Pozo? I missed the news that he is redshirting this year.
The Game Details
T1 – Wetherholt F7 on the first pitch. Herrera F8. Gorman lines out L8. Quick inning.
B1 – 1-3. 3u. 4-3. Leahy gets through a quick inning.
T2 – Urias reaches on E5. Fermin promptly GIDP. Church K’s. Guess they can’t hit Junk.
B2 – Single. Single. FC at third. RBI single. HBP. As efficient as the first inning was, this has been the opposite. P2. Bases loaded walk after 0-2 count plates another run. 4-3 closes out the inning. Marlins up 2-0.
T3 – Sags 5-3. Pages singles to break the no-no by Junk. Scott II forces Pages at second. Lots of swings today, typical of getaway day. It’s funny how plate discipline wanes on these days. Wetherholt F8.
B3 – K. L8. Walk. What is with these walks? It is an epidemic. All four balls were “waste” pitches. Totally non-competitive. F9.
T4 – Herrera F8. Gorman F7. Urias 6-3. A seven-pitch inning. Junk at 36 pitches through four innings. Cardinals trying to get him a complete game.
B4 – 1-3. Another walk. He is missing by a lot! Most of his pitches are non-competitive. Not much on the borderline. Single. An RBI single, but Church does get the backside runner going to third for the second out. 9-5 is the scoring. Stolen base. Urias makes a nice play 3-1 to end the inning. Marlins now up 3-0.
T5 – Pages F8. Saggese K. Church earns a walk. Fermin hits into hard luck out 5-3.
B5 – Single. 4-3 advances a runner who was on the move with the pitch. An RBI single, followed by another single signals that Leahy is really laboring. A caught stealing and a K re-direct the inning to a more positive end. Leahy is assuredly done. His line through 5 innings – 8 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 4 runs. 89 pitches, only 50 for strikes.
T6 – Nardi in for Junk. He pitched 5 shutout IP, 1 hit, 1 BB. Scott K. Wetherholt K. Herrera 4-3. Ho-hum.
B6 – Graceffo in. Single. Single. F8 and GIDP allow GG to make a good recovery. Still Marlins up 4-0.
T7 – Gorman doubles. Bender in for Nardi. Urias F8. Fermin backwards K. Saggese’s struggles continue 6-3.
B7 – Svanson in for Graceffo. K. F7. 6-3. Good inning for a guy that needed one.
T8 – Petersen in for Bender. Pages backwards K. Scott swinging K. Wetherholt backwards K. Been that kind of day.
B8 – Fernandez in for Svanson. K. E-3. Single loads the bases. P6. K. Ends the uprising.
T9 – Bachar in for Petersen. Herrera with a lead-off solo HR. Gorman walks. Urias P6. Fairbanks in for the save. Fermin F7. Church K to end the game after an 8-pitch PA. 4-1 Marlins in your final.
Post-Game Notes
- Check out Today on the Farm – Wednesday 4/22 for updates on MiLB action. Two teams play day games today.
- After the game today, a flight home followed by an apparently well-timed off day. Seattle comes into town for a weekend tilt, which will be a very brief 3-game homestand.
- Paid attendance for this game was less than 7,600. Actual attendance well less than that. These teams drew better in Spring Training at RDS.
