Despite playoff elimination, Marlins showing significant progress from 2013
MIAMI -- Scoreboard watching officially ended Saturday night for the Miami Marlins in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals.
With eight games remaining in the season, the same franchise that lost 100 in 2013 finally bowed out of the postseason picture.
In one of the better turnarounds in MLB history, Miami sits at 74-80 -- becoming just the fifth National League team to win at least 74 since 1969 after reaching the century mark in defeats the previous season.
"I think this year was great in that we were able to play meaningful games for a long time this season," manager Mike Redmond said. "You think about it last year losing 100 games we were just trying to survive out there. For us in one year talking about playing meaningful games into September, that's big for us, and I think we all learned a lot and will continue to learn and build off of that next year."
Without their top two players, arguably two of the best in the big leagues, Miami is limping to the finish line of an eight-month marathon.
Since slugger Giancarlo Stanton's injury Sept. 11, the Marlins have gone 3-6 and lost 4.5 games in the standings to the Pittsburgh Pirates. His absence in the lineup is felt every night -- from pitch selection to scoring output. The club averages just 2.7 runs per game.
With the Mets' victory over the Atlanta Braves, New York moved a half game ahead of the Marlins for third in the National League East. A three-game series with Philadelphia Tuesday through Thursday could decide whether Miami avoids last place for the first time since 2010.
Although they would have to go 7-1 to finish at .500, the fact the club was able to flirt with that benchmark all season is a testament to the progress.
On Saturday, much like they have all year, the Marlins made things interesting down a run in the ninth inning. With runners at the corners and two outs, pinch-hitter Garrett Jones grounded into a game-ending double play.
"Just keep battling, stay in it," said catcher Jeff Mathis, who went hitless in three at-bats. "Stay in the game, play every out every inning. Finishing up strong and go into a positive offseason. I've been proud of the way guys have played all year and battled. Stuck it out all nine innings, made some stuff pretty exciting towards the end of some games. We're playing good baseball and got to keep going for the next eight, nine days."
Right-hander Jarred Cosart worked out of trouble until the seventh when he allowed three runs, including the two-out go-ahead RBI single to Denard Span.
Cosart, acquired at the trade deadline from the Houston Astros, has made it known since arriving in South Florida how pumped he was to pitch with October on the line.
Though that won't happen this year, the experience of being in the wild-care race can only help he and the younger guys out in the future. The 24-year-old has done his part, going 4-3 with a 2.29 ERA in nine starts with the Marlins.
"It was fun, a lot of excitement for next year," Cosart said. "Just starting off on the right foot and staying steady throughout the season. The division's only going to get better. You see that with the pitching and hitting the Mets ran out there. They're only going to get better. (The Nationals) are not losing anybody, and the Braves are right there. It's going to be a battle again and it's a long season, so I guess you can't come out of the gate too fast."
After the three-game set against the Phillies to close out the home schedule, Miami will end the season with a four-game series in Washington as the Nationals vie for home-field advantage in the postseason.
As tough as another close loss -- a second consecutive one-run defeat -- was on Saturday, the shorthanded Marlins continue to compete and not roll over. Even without Stanton, one of the top candidates for the NL MVP, sidelined. Even with reigning NL Cy Young finalist Jose Fernandez out since May.
First baseman Justin Bour continues to hit when given the chance, batting .406 in eight games as a starter. His two-out single to right extended the game in the ninth. Yet the big hit, the big pitch, has been missing. It will come with experience. It will come with consistency, something that more complete and veteran clubs like the Nationals can claim.
"I'm proud of these guys," Redmond said. "We've battled and we battled through a lot of adversity as you guys know. We've talked about it a lot. These guys have given me everything they had every single day. We've had a lot of fun, we've had some tough days. Losing (Giancarlo) there in Milwaukee was a big blow. That was a big blow to our team and our lineup and everything. These guys, I've got to give them credit. They keep battling, they keep fighting.
"It's been a great year, a fun year. We've really improved. I've seen a lot of players how much better they've gotten in a year. It's a great clubhouse. These guys support each other and pick each other up. We've just got to keep fighting and try to win as many games as we can over the next however many days."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
