Solid outing for O’Grady, but this one ends in losing effort
MIAMI — Chris O’Grady’s first start was a late-night revelation in San Francisco.
The 26-year-old lefty was a surprise call-up from Triple-A to patch the MiamiMarlins’ leaky starting rotation just before the AllStar break. He authored a feel-good victory against the Giants (three runs allowed in 5 1⁄ innings) with 3 a jubilant group of family and friends cheering him and celebrating the victory.
His reward was a second start against the hottest team in baseball against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Park. Considering his debut at AT&T Park ended after midnight Eastern time, this was the first close-up look for Marlins fans.
Some of those family members made the trip east, and O’Grady’s performance was similar, except for the outcome, this time a loss on his ledger as theDodgers prevailed 3-2.
“It was one of those games where Chris gets hit a little bit but keeps us in the game where it’s not major damage, it’s one run at a time,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s not a guy that’s going to overpower. He’s going to have to hit spots and change locations. But he hung in there.”
The first three Dodgers hit drives totaling1,144feet. ChristianYelich caught the first two on the track in front of the home run sculpture. Turner’s belt was pulled farther to left and landed in the Clevelander, this one just out of Ozuna’s reach.
A leadoff walk to Logan Forsythe in the third and Chris Taylor’s triple in the fourth led to the other two runs O’Grady allowed.
Dividing between cutters and fastballs and spotting in his curveball, O’Grady struck out six.
“A guy who competes,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “He’s a lot of fun to catch because he can let you do a lot of things behind the plate and you can move hitters bodies back and forth. With that combination, he gives you a lot of different options.”
Conley returning
With Edinson Volquez set back by patella tendinitis in a knee, the Marlins will reach into Triple-A again and call up Adam Conley to start Tuesday, Mattingly said.
Conley had considerable success in 2016 (3.85 ERAin 25 starts) but took a troubling step backward this season. With a 7.53 ERA in seven outings (six starts), the left-handerwas shipped to New Orleans in earlyMay.
His performance at New Orleans hasn’t been superlative: 5.49 ERA, 1.51 WHIPin 12 starts.
But he’s been better lately, allowing four earned runs in 16 2⁄ innings over 3 his past three appearances.
“The last onewas good,” Mattingly said. “He was the guy development thought was throwing the ball best. That was the same situation Chris [O’Grady] was in when they called him up.
“Obviously, he’s been here. It gives him another opportunity to come and showuswhat he can do.”
Acrobatic outfield
Marlins outfielders had a busy day Sunday, including a spectacular home run-saving catch by Marcell Ozuna and the oddity of Giancarlo Stanton losing his glove over the fence.
Ozuna took the homer away from Enrique Hernandez, a former Marlin. Stanton had his glove fall over the wall in a vain attempt to catch Chris Taylor’s drive, which stayed in the park and went for a triple.
Stanton finished the inning with a spare glove and the other was later returned to him.
“There’s not enough space for me to go down there and get it, but I could see it down there,” Stanton said of the area in rightcenter between the fence and the stands. “I’ve seen it happen before, just not where you have no chance of going to get it. Not too many parks have the crevice back there like that.”
Ozunahadamoreworkable situation in left by the Clevelander, and used the chainlink fence to get elevation.
“If you can keep the game closer that’s the most important thing,” said Ozuna, who was unable to reach an earlier ball that went for a homer. “You make a catch like that you feel great. You feel happy.”
Christian Yelich also ran down some long drives in center, including a leaping grab near thehomerun sculpture, and in the gap in right-center.
“You’ve got to love outfielders that are willing to do that,” O’Grady said. It’s nice to see that because you can trust them.”