MIAMI—The Colorado Rockies have already had four separate eight-game losing streaks on their way to one of the worst seasons in MLB history, but never nine games. That is still the case after upsetting the Miami Marlins in their series opener on Monday. The Marlins jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but ultimately fell by a score of 6-4. This was only the Rockies’ tenth win overall and their fourth win on the road.
Right-handed pitcher Max Meyer got the start for the Marlins and had a rough outing. The 2020 first-round pick threw five innings, allowing ten hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and five strikeouts. He also allowed three home runs, including two to catcher Hunter Goodman. Meyer became the first starting pitcher to allow ten hits in a start versus the Rockies this season.
Even though Meyer has made only one quality start in his last seven tries, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough still gave him a vote of confidence. “My level of concern is not high at all for Max,” McCullough said after the game. “He’s doing a lot of good things within each of these outings. He’s trying to mitigate either an inning or a succession of at-bats.
After Meyer’s rocking performance, the Marlins handed the ball to right-handed relief pitcher Jesús Tinoco. The Venezuelan native threw a clean sixth inning, recording Miami’s first 1-2-3 inning of the ballgame.
After Tinoco’s inning of work, the Marlins handed the ball to righty Valente Bellozo. The 25-year-old right-hander threw two perfect innings before allowing one run in the top of the ninth.
“The guy just gets out,” McCullough said about Bellozo. “He’s done a good job of going multiple innings and keeping us in ball games by holding opponents down and throwing strikes.”
On offense, the Marlins were off to an excellent start, scoring four runs in the first two innings off of Germán Márquez. However, they struggled to hit with runners in scoring position and stranded almost a dozen runners on base. In the series-opening loss to Colorado, the Marlins went 3-for-16 (.187 batting average) with RISP. That left the door open enough for even a struggling team like the Rockies to make a comeback.
Right fielder Jesús Sánchez was one of the bright spots for the Marlins. Sánchez went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI, and a walk. Shortstop Otto Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single through the left side.
With poor weather conditions surrounding loanDepot park and few recognizable stars on the opposing team, the Marlins drew their smallest home crowd of the season. A team source tells Fish On First that only approximately 2,700 tickets were scanned.
What’s next?
The Miami Marlins will look to even the series and force a rubber match in the series finale. Former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara will be on the mound for the Marlins. Alcantara has struggled mightily in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He has posted a 2-7 record with an 8.47 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, a .249 opponent batting average, and 40 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Gordon will get the start for the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Gordon has posted a 1-2 record with a 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in his first three starts of the season.
The Rockies are looking to clinch their first series win of 2025. The first pitch for Tuesday’s game is at 6:40 pm EST.