Eovaldi Helps Marlins Beat Rockies 4-3
MIAMI (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi pitched six innings and the Miami Marlins made the most of five hits to beat the Colorado Rockies for the second night in a row Tuesday, 4-3.
The Marlins' 2-0 start hints at big improvement from last year, when they began 14-41 en route to a 100-loss season. The Rockies are 0-2 after finishing last in the NL West in 2013.
Miami's rotation — the youngest in the majors — stifled the Rockies for the second game in a row. Eovaldi (1-0) allowed two runs and struck out six after Jose Fernandez limited Colorado to one run in the season opener. Eovaldi gave up six hits, walked one and reached 99 mph on the radar gun.
A.J. Ramos struck out Nolan Arenado with runners at the corners to end the eighth, protecting a one-run lead. Steve Cishek converted his 30th consecutive save opportunity and first of the year by pitching a perfect ninth.
Miami newcomer Casey McGehee singled home a run and has five RBIs in the first two games. The Marlins had a hit in only two innings, but through two games they're batting .526 (10 for 19) with runners in scoring position.
Brett Anderson (0-1) pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three earned. It was the left-hander's first start with the Rockies after he was acquired in a trade with Oakland in December.
The crowd of 15,906 made for a more subdued atmosphere than Monday's opener, which Miami won 10-1.
Eovaldi has endured the worst run support in the majors since 2011, but the Marlins went ahead to stay after he came out of the game in the sixth.
With the score 2-all, Reed Johnson pinch-hit for Eovaldi and led off with a double. He advanced on a groundout and scored when Giancarlo Stanton hit into a forceout. Stanton advanced on a throwing error by second baseman D.J. LeMahieu, stole third and scored on McGehee's two-out single.
Another Marlins newcomer, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, earned his first RBI this season when he doubled in the second inning. He scored on Adeiny Hechavarria's sacrifice fly.
The Rockies tied the game in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Troy Tulowitzki, a scratch single by Justin Morneau and a sacrifice fly by Wilin Rosario.
With the score 2-all, Anderson reached on a bloop double in the fifth for his first major league hit, but Eovaldi escaped by retiring Drew Stuffs and Michael Cuddyer.
NOTES: Tulowitzki went into the hole at shortstop to rob Marcell Ozuna of a hit on a grounder in the fifth. ... Rockies RHP Jordan Lyles will be activated to start Wednesday in place of RHP Tyler Chatwood, who is out with a left hamstring strain. RHP Henderson Alvarez will make his first start for the Marlins since throwing a no-hitter on the final day of the 2013 regular season. ... LHP Franklin Morales will start Thursday at Miami for the Rockies, and RHP Juan Nicasio will start their home opener Friday against Arizona.
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