Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Marlins miss
Good vibes gone in 6-3 loss to the LA Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES — So much for momentum.
The positive vibes emanating from the Miami Marlins’ clubhouse Saturday night and Sunday morning disappeared faster than the team’s equipment onto the bus after a getaway-day loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-3, on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
The Marlins woke up hours removed from an encouraging win, but now it stands as their only one of the week.
As they head into a Bay Area off day before a two-game set against the Oakland Athletics, the Marlins have lost six of seven, 11 of 12 and 20 of 25.
Manager Don Mattingly described the team’s psyche as “pretty good” despite not winning back-to-back games since April 22-23 and a generally rough four weeks.
“The problem when you talk about that [is] you’re talking about two weeks ago,” Mattingly said. “There’s nothing you can control [from] two weeks ago. All you can control is today.
“Today we were in a game and we didn’t do enough to win. We didn’t get the right hits. Yesterday we were able to do it. We have another game in two days.”
The Marlins, of course, expected to be better than this at season’s start and expect to be better than this moving forward. But they can’t fully explain the reasons behind the poor month.
“Do you think I imagined we’re going to lose 20 of 25?” Christian Yelich said. “I don’t think we’re a 130-loss team like we have been the last month.
“I don’t think we’re a 130-loss team like we have been the last month.” Christian Yelich
“Everybody wants to play better than we’re playing. The goal is to go out there to win ballgames, and we haven’t done that.”
The Marlins didn’t have a baserunner against Los Angeles starter Brandon McCarthy until the fifth, when Derek Dietrich doubled into the left-field corner with two outs. Dietrich scored on A.J. Ellis’ single to right.
Aside from an ultimately futile mini-rally against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, which included a Justin Bour homer, the Marlins’ offense was limited. Their only other hits were an RBI single from Marcell Ozuna in the eighth and a double and a single from Dee Gordon, who collected his third consecutive multi-hit game.
Gordon reached base eight times in four games against the Dodgers, the only professional organization he’s ever known besides Miami.
Sidearmer Brad Ziegler’s miserable month continued in his two-run sixth inning. In a span of five pitches, Ziegler hit a batter, allowed two hits — both to left field, deflected by third baseman Derek Dietrich — and both runs. The hardest-hit pitch of the inning (101.2 mph, according to Statcast) was a ground-ball double play by Corey Seager.
Right-hander Vance Worley lasted four innings in his Marlins debut. He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, with all of that damage coming with two outs.
After retiring his first two batters, Worley gave up a Cody Bellinger single and Yasmani Grandal double. Adrian Gonzalez plated them both with a double to right field. In the third, again with two outs, Grandal singled and Gonzalez doubled again for another run.
“It’s up to the starters to set the tone out there anyway,” Worley said. “It would’ve been nice to stay out there a little longer and contribute a little more, but that’s how this one went.”
It’s not clear when or if the Worley will get another chance in the Miami rotation. With two team off days this week, the Marlins won’t need a fifth starter until May 30. Lefthander Jeff Locke (shoulder tendinitis) is expected to be ready to return around then.
Mattingly said the Marlins will arrange their rotation to accommodate Dan Straily, Edinson Volquez and Jose Urena.
“We’ll work around those guys, that’s for sure,” Mattingly said. “We haven’t made decisions on who’s going to pitch where.”