Nicolino pitches well in loss
Offense stays cold in 2-1 loss to Pirates
MIAMI — In the Marlins’ ongoing auditions for left-handed starters next season, Justin Nicolino is putting in a strong bid for a future starring role on the staff.
Nicolino, one of four southpaws in the injury-depleted starting rotation, gave up two runs in his third straight quality start, however, a home run by Pedro Alvarez and continued anemic run support led to a 2-1 loss to the surging Pirates Thursday night at Marlins Park.
It didn’t help that Nicolino’s mound counterpart was 24-year-old righthander Gerrit Cole, who despite being 0-3 in five August starts, improved to 15-7, the second most wins in the National League.
No Marlin reached first base until Martin Prado and Marcell Ozuna singled in the seventh. Derek Dietrich’s sacrifice fly made it 2-1. Closer Mark Melancon gave up a leadoff single to Prado (Miami’s sixth hit, all singles) in the ninth, but still notched his major-league leading 41st save in 43 opportunities.
Cole went 7 innings, allowing one run on five singles with four strikeouts. Cole, the first overall pick of the 2011 draft — 13 spots ahead of Marlins ace Jose Fernandez — has given up two earned runs or less in 11 of his 13 road starts.
“He’s got a pretty special arm and you know you’re in for a battle anytime he’s the opposing pitcher,’’ Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. “His stuff is quality.
“Nicolino went out and battled. I didn’t think he had his best command but he was able to navigate through six innings.”
The Marlins completed the season series with the wild-card leading Pirates at 1-6 and wound up a moribund 2-6 homestand in which they scored 13 runs over the last seven games. They now embark on a sixgame road trip against the tough pitching staff of the Nationals and slumping Braves.
Nicolino, a rookie, (2-2) has given up just six runs in his last three starts over 20
innings for a sparkling 2.66 ERA.
“I wasn’t as efficient as last game against Philly. This is a tough lineup,” Nicolino said. “I fell behind early but the defense made some great plays.”
In the southpaw competition, Jennings admitted that Brad Hand, who has notched three wins in his last four starts, is slightly ahead of Nicolino, as well as rookie Adam Conley and veteran Chris Narveson, 33.
“I hope they continue to respond in a way that will make our decisions this offseason very tough,” Jennings said.
Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli led off the second with a booming triple to center that glanced off Ozuna’s glove. Neil Walker’s sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. An inning later, the fiery Cervelli was ejected by home-plate umpire Alan Porter for questioning a call.
After wriggling out of a self-induced bases-loaded (three walks) jam in the third, Alvarez deposited a center-cut cutter into the center-field shrubbery 443feet away. It was Alvarez’s 21st homer, 18 of which have been solo blasts.
“It was a cutter up and stayed middle [to Alvarez] and he did what he’s supposed to do with it,” Nicolino said.