Marlins Offense Shows Up In 2014 Opener
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – After a season in which the Miami Marlins' bats could barely find the baseball, the offense exploded Monday night to go with another dominating pitching performance from Jose Fernandez in a 10-1 demolition of the Colorado Rockies.
Fernandez was dazzling in his 2014 season debut earning the victory by pitching six innings and giving up just five hits and one earned run while striking out nine Rockies batters. A.J. Ramos and Brad Hand worked a combined three scoreless innings to help seal the victory for Miami.
But the much-maligned Marlins offense was the story of the day with the top three hitters in the lineup going a combined 6-17 (.353) with eight RBI's in the game. The real star of the game was centerfielder Marcell Ozuna.
The second-year player made his debut last year and started off hot, but struggles at the plate quickly followed and he was demoted to the minors. Ozuna struggled in spring training to get his swing under him, but on Opening Day Ozuna was in the proverbial zone.
Ozuna ended up going 3-4 with a double, home run and a single in the game. Ozuna had seven total bases in the game to lead the Marlins' offensive attack. Another player who struggled at the plate last season, Adeiny Hechavarria also had a good start to his season with a 3-4 showing with two runs scored and an RBI.
Overall, the Marlins were 8-15 with runners in scoring position compared to Colorado's 0-3.
Miami will send another young pitcher with plenty of promise to the mound on Tuesday when Nathan Eovaldi takes the mound in the second game of the four-game series against Colorado.