Adam Conley settles into debut during Marlins' loss
TORONTO -- After throwing two straight balls to open his major-league debut, Miami Marlins left-hander Adam Conley stopped to think before his next pitch.
"I've been here a million times and there's nothing to be overly excited about so much so that I can't do my job," Conley said. "I just started focusing on pounding the middle of the zone and letting stuff work, and that's what I've done in the past to have success."
Conley would heed his advice to pitch a perfect eighth inning on Wednesday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
With the Marlins trailing 7-1, Conley retired Dioner Navarro, Justin Smoak and Russell Martin on six pitches (four strikes). Both Smoak and Martin entered the inning with two hits.
His first offering, a 91 mph fastball to Navarro, just missed the zone. Following another ball, he induced his first of two straight 5-3 putouts on a fastball and slider, respectively. Martin sent a weak comebacker off a changeup to Conley, who threw over to first for the final out.
"Located very well and made them hit the ball," manager Dan Jennings said. "It was good to see Adam get that opportunity and respond the way that he did."
Conley, brought up Monday with right-handed reliever Bryan Morris on the disabled list, went 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 games with Triple-A New Orleans in 2015. He has primarily been a starter in the minors after pitching in relief in college.
"After the first two days I spent here it was nice to be around and take everything in, but after a while sitting in the bullpen watching the game go by you want to get in there," Conley said. "... I'm happy to get it out of the way. I felt comfortable out there, I felt fine, felt like myself.
"Now just looking forward to pitching in games with a lead and maybe multiple innings and stuff like that. Just whatever's next for me, whatever they have for me."
LINEUP SWITCH
Hoping to take advantage of Giancarlo Stanton's hot bat, Jennings switched around Wednesday's lineup by putting him cleanup and placing Christian Yelich third. Jennings plans on using this strategy "a while."
Over 353 at-bats as the fourth hitter, Stanton has a .263 average with 19 homers and 55 RBI. Stanton, who entered the game with all 220 of his at-bats this season in the third spot of the order, went 1 for 4. Ahead of him, Dee Gordon, Martin Prado and Yelich combined to go 1 for 12.
"Just try to get some more guys on in front of Giancarlo as hot as he is right now swinging the bat," Jennings said. "Thought we could get a few guys on, create some traffic to do some more damage. We believe in Yeli, we know Yeli's a good hitter and going to be a great hitter. We're going to stay with that a while. His swings are better. Hit a nice double today down the line, stayed inside that ball, so we'll try to create some traffic in front of G and let him continue to be a run producer."
WEEKEND ROTATION
Right-hander Mat Latos (left knee inflammation) will return from the disabled list to start Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. He takes over for lefty Brad Hand.
DRAFT UPDATE
Miami capped the 2015 draft Wednesday with selections in rounds 11-40. Two of them happen to be sons of former Marlins.
Outfielder Alexander Fernandez, taken in the 25th round (746th overall) out of Nova Southeastern University, is the son of former Marlins pitcher, Alex Fernandez. In the 31st round, Jeff Conine’s son, Griffin, got chosen as the 926th pick. He is an outfielder from Pine Crest School.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
