The Marlins will not go winless this season and small ball might be the reason.
The combination of young right-handed starter Pablo Lopez and Marlins manager Don Mattingly’s strategic move to bat Miguel Rojas in the leadoff spot paid dividends in Miami’s 7-3 victory against the Colorado Rockies Saturday night at Marlins Park.
Lopez, 23, picked up where he left off in Spring Training when he led the league with an 0.90 ERA. The 6-4 Lopez followed Trevor Richards’ sterling start Friday (one run over 6 innings) with an overpowering outing, going 5 1/3 innings, while allowing three runs on five singles with a career-high seven strikeouts and no walks.