Mattingly defends his sticking with Barraclough

MIAMI — Marlins manager Don Mattingly expressed no regrets about keeping Kyle Barraclough in through an arduous 40-pitch ninth inning Sunday that ended with the Marlins closer serving a walk-off grand slam to Tampa Bay’s Daniel Robertson.

“That’s one of those things, you’re going to give that guy the chance to get out of it,” Mattingly said Monday. “In general, you’re saying, he’s our best guy . ... Even when it gets to that [point Sunday], you still feel like he’s going to get an out.”

Barraclough has been one of the top relievers in the National League this season, including being named NL reliever of the month in June. But he missed Friday’s game with a stomach virus and on Saturday gave up a homer despite recording a save.

Sunday, Barraclough endured the worst inning of his career when he allowed five runs and four hits. The 4-1 Marlins lead going into the bottom of the ninth blew up into a 6-4 defeat.

Barraclough labored through 11 pitches before retiring Mallex Smith for the second out. A walk to light-hitting Willy Adames preceded Robertson’s decisive at-bat.

“I definitely didn’t want to get to 40 [pitches],” Mattingly said. “You don’t want him to get hurt.

“I talked to him today and he said his arm felt fine the whole time out there. It feels fine today. It makes me feel better that he feels good.”

Following his fourth blown save in 14 chances, Barraclough said, “You get behind in bad counts and they’re sitting dead-red on fastballs, that was kind of my day.”

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said before Monday’s game against the Braves that team officials were deciding who to call up from the minors. They were also awaiting the medical report to learn how long Cooper may be out.

“The MRI tells us we’re going to have to do that, at least,” Mattingly said of placing Cooper on the DL. “We just don’t know to what extent the time line or even an estimated time line.”

“[I’ve] seen the play when he made the play on that ball late in [Friday’s] game, I think he kind of jammed it going back, kind of caught the ball behind him almost.”

Cooper, who was the Marlins’ starting right fielder on Opening Day and also plays first base, was hit on the wrist in the second game of the season by a pitch from the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks. The injury initially seemed minor, but further tests revealed a partial tear of the tendon sheath in the wrist.

Cooper didn’t return to the lineup until July 6 and has appeared in only 14 games this season, batting .212.