Cuban defectors Lazo and Fernandez followed similar path

MIAMI — Marlins righthander Jose Fernandez wasn’t the only Cuban defector coming back from an arm injury who sparkled in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over the Nationals.

Rookie reliever Raudel Lazo, who was called up from Double-A Jacksonville on Sept. 2, entered with two outs in the sixth inning and a runner on third base to face MVP candidate Bryce Harper. The 5-foot-9 southpaw got the left-handed slugger to fly out to right to protect the lead and shutout.

In his first three major league appearances, Lazo, 26, has allowed no hits, runs or walks in 2 1⁄ innings with three strikeouts.

“Harper is a great hitter and a great power hitter,” said Lazo, who like Fernandez had Tommy John surgery last year. “When they brought me in, I just had a positive attitude and a positive mindset that I had to go out there and dominate. I just worked on keeping my pitches in the zone and stuck with the plan of attack.”

Marlins manager Dan Jennings is becoming a Lazo fan.

“You’ve got to test them; you’ve got throw them to the fire sometimes,” Jennings said. “He passed. … The one thing that this kid has shown the times before when he’s been out there, he’s very calm, very cool under fire and he’s not afraid to throw the ball over the plate.”

Fernandez, who defected from Cuba in 2008 or two years before Lazo, roomed with his countryman in the minors and eased his transition into the United States while teaching him English.

“I tried to teach him how things go here,” said Fer- nandez, who felt no ill effects after five scoreless innings in his first game back off the disabled list with a right biceps strain. “He’s a hard worker and I’m proud of him in everything he’s accomplished coming from Cuba. I know how hard it is.

“You don’t expect a small guy with such a big heart. He’s a big believer in himself when he’s on the mound and it’s hard to teach that.”

Lazo, who was a combined 4-3 with one save and a 1.96 ERA in Jacksonville and Single-A Jupiter this season, thought his career was finished after his second arm surgery since the Marlins signed him as an international free agent for $60,000 in 2011.

“It’s very tough in that I came here by myself and it was tough to leave my family,” said Lazo, whose parents remain in Cuba. “Going through two surgeries [in two years] was tough and I didn’t think I was going to get back.”

Lazo said Fernandez has helped him through tough times and his cousin Pedro Lazo, the winningest pitcher in Cuban National Series history with 257 wins, still serves as an inspiration.

“When I played in Cuba, he was always there,” said Lazo, who was 19 when he pitched with Pedro on Pinar del Río in the Cuban National Series. “He helped me with instruction and gave me advice on how to become a better pitcher.’’

While his older cousin chose not to defect for reportedly $30 million before retiring, Lazo hopes this is the start of a long major league career.

“I’m just going out there to prove myself and with the mentality and work ethic and heart and fight that will get you there,” Lazo said.