Gordon, Marlins Look For First Win After Rough Opener
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Marlins' season didn't start the way they had hoped. It's a good thing there are 161 more games to be played.
The Marlins are certainly hoping things go a lot smoother on the second day of the season. Dee Gordon, in particular, is looking to save face.
Gordon and the Marlins get a second chance at their first win of the season Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Miami opened 2015 with s 2-1 loss to Atlanta on Monday, but the boos from the sellout crowd were reserved for an odd occurrence at Marlins Park. The game was delayed 16 minutes because of rain so the roof could close, a first at the stadium that opened three years ago.
The rain affected Gordon, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI in his Marlins debut. The second baseman was caught stealing in the third inning and fell to the ground running out of the batter's box after a bunt to become an easy out in the eighth.
"Wet track," said Gordon, who led the majors with a career-high 64 stolen bases with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. "Didn't slide as well as I could have. It didn't work out."
The loss was the fifth in seven home games against the Braves for the Marlins, who are hitting .235 with 13 runs in those defeats.
Gordon, though, has a .355 average with 13 runs and 10 steals in 17 career meetings with Atlanta, and is 2 for 4 versus scheduled starter Alex Wood.
The Marlins are giving the ball to Mat Latos for the first time since acquiring him in a trade with Cincinnati over the winter. The right-hander went 5-5 with a 3.25 ERA in 16 starts for the Reds after returning from left knee surgery. He matched his career high with 14 wins in each of his two previous seasons.
"I feel good," Latos said. "I'm healthy."
Latos, who grew up in South Florida, may be feeling particularly positive coming off his best outing in spring training, allowing a solo homer in 5 1-3 innings against Houston on March 28. That was a welcome change five days after surrendering nine runs in three innings against the New York Mets.
"He looked good," manager Mike Redmond said. "He got his pitches in. I thought he threw some really nice breaking balls, located his fast ball pretty well. We just had the one home run, but other than that, he gave us a chance to win."
Latos is 3-3 with a 3.28 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta, allowing one run in six innings of a 3-1 loss in 12 on Aug. 22.
The Braves' season opener couldn't have gone much better after dealing All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to San Diego on Sunday.
Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and new closer Jason Grilli combined to toss three perfect innings after an excellent outing from starter Julio Teheran.
"You're sitting there after Craig gets traded, and you're thinking the first save chance is going to be a one-run game," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "And sure enough, it didn't take 12 hours for this thing to materialize."
Wood takes the mound looking to begin what he hopes to be his first full season in the rotation. The left-hander went 11-11 with a 2.78 ERA In 35 games - 24 starts - last year.
He posted a 2.43 ERA with a 6-5 record while starting his last 17 games. That includes going 1-0 in two meetings with the Marlins, allowing two runs with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Nick Markakis drove in both runs in his Braves debut and is 6 for 15 in four career games in Miami.
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