Extra innings takes toll on bullpen; Garcia called up

MIAMI — The 16-inning marathon the Marlins lost to the Mets in the early hours of Friday took a toll on players and fans, and the effects may be felt by the teams into the remainder of the series.

The game lasted more than 5½ hours and consumed the benches and bullpens of both teams. The Marlins had to use Adam Conley, who scheduled to start Friday, in relief — he gave up the decisive home run to Travis d’Arnaud in the 16th inning. (Conley will start Saturday).

After sapping their bullpen, they sent reliever Nick Wittgren to Triple-A New Orleans and called up left-hander Jarlin Garcia from Double-A Jacksonville to have a fresh arm available Friday.

Nonetheless, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he does not favor rule changes that might expedite a quicker conclusion to games in extra innings.

Such rules were used in the recent World Baseball Classic, which had each half inning beginning with the 11th starting with runners on first and second.

MLB is experimenting with a similar rule this season in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Arizona League that will automatically place a runner on second base at the start of extra innings.

“I wouldn’t want to see a [major league] game decided like that,” Mattingly said. “I could see it for the minor leagues because you’re developing guys and you’re protecting pitchers’ arms and the number of innings they pitch, and you’re not set up to go make a bunch of moves after a game.”

Mattingly said he regards such a change too radical for the majors, and that coping with the rigors of extended innings is a fair challenge for both teams.

“I like the way it is, honestly,” he said. “I think it tests your team from the standpoint of what your pitchers can do. Can they handle the bat at all?

“Pitchers are actually really good athletes and are capable of doing more. I’m just not in favor of making any changes to that.”

Commissioner Rob Manfred has made speeding up games a priority, and Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer, said this spring that he was interested in seeing if the rule has merits for other levels of the minors, and perhaps even for consideration in the majors.

“Let’s see what it looks like,” Torre told Yahoo Sports. “It’s not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch. As much as it’s nice to talk about being at an 18-inning game, it takes time.”

Mattingly said, “If baseball says we do it, then we do it. If the powers that be go that route, I think you just make the change and you move forward with it.”

Garcia (take 2)

Garcia, rated as the Marlins’ No. 4 prospect, received his second call-up to the Marlins, but began Friday still looking to make his major league debut. He spent three days with the club last May but never got into a game.

Garcia got his opportunity in the sixth inning and worked a scoreless inning after issuing a leadoff walk.

Regarded as an important prospect by the Marlins, Garcia, 24, had thrown four scoreless innings in three appearances for Jacksonville. A starter until last summer, he began his transition to the bullpen with High-A Jupiter and continued it in the Arizona Fall League and Dominican Winter League.

Garcia said he feels better prepared to step on the mound for the Marlins than he did during his brief stint last season.

“I feel more experienced, I feel more mature, plus I’ve gained more experience being a reliever,” he said. “And pitching in the Dominican league and the Fall League gave me the experience of pitching in relief.”

Garcia gives the Marlins a left-hander in the bullpen, which they have lacked, at least temporarily.

How long he remains with the club is uncertain. The Marlins are carrying eight relievers and four position players on the bench, but they may subtract a reliever and add a hitter when Martin Prado (hamstring strain) returns.

That could be as soon as Monday in Seattle. Prado was progressing well in his rehab assignment with Jupiter, and was scheduled to play seven innings Friday and Saturday as a final test. … Wittgren was the ultimate fall guy of the 16-inning game despite pitching three hitless innings. He was the only member of the bullpen with options enabling him to be sent to the minors. … Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique strain) took ground balls Friday and said he felt no pain. He was on track to begin a rehab assignment Monday.

Mattingly