Fielding gaffe puts damper on Jarred Cosart's otherwise strong Marlins debut

Published Aug. 1, 2014 11:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

MIAMI -- Right-hander Jarred Cosart had fielded a comebacker thousands of times in his career from spring training to major-league games.

But during the sixth inning of his Miami Marlins debut, he couldn't snare a ball during the Marlins' 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Friday night.

Cosart, who Miami acquired with utility player Kiké Hernandez at the trade deadline, allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and two walks. He was inserted into the rotation for righty Jacob Turner after being scratched from his Thursday start in Houston for the Astros.

The 24-year-old got off to a fast start, striking out leadoff batter Billy Hamilton on four pitches and retiring the first nine batters in order until giving up a run in the fourth.

"I thought he looked good for five innings," manager Mike Redmond said. "He looked like he kind of ran out of gas there in the sixth. But I saw some good things, I saw a good fastball, hit on some good breaking balls. I thought overall he did fine. He was here last night, not that long of a trip. No doubt it's a whirlwind for those guys when you get traded and you're packing up and going to a new place. But I thought he did fine."

Cincinnati collected three consecutive hits to take a 1-0 lead in the inning but Cosart limited the damage.

Todd Frazier's RBI single scored Hamilton. With runners at the corners and one out, he got Devin Mesoraco to strike out swinging, Ryan Ludwick to line out to third and Skip Schumaker to pop out to short.

"I take a lot of positives out of today," Cosart said. "I attacked the strike zone early, cut down -- the two walks in one inning proved costly -- but if I can build off the little things I did early in the game. I was able to limit it to one run. I felt really good and everything felt smooth. I felt I was able to execute the gamneplan there until the sixth inning."

Cosart (0-1) entered the frame having thrown just 65 pitches. He also collected his first career hit with an infield single in the third in his fourth big-league at-bat.

After striking out Hamilton to start the sixth, Cosart issued his first walk to Jay Bruce on four pitches. Frazier's comebacker then went off Cosart for an infield hit rather than a double play. Mesoraco followed by working a nine-pitch at-bat, finally walking to load the bases.

Redmond went to his bullpen, bringing in righty Chris Hatcher for Cosart, who exited after 82 pitches (51 strikes). Hatcher permitted the three inherited runners to score on Ludwick's two-run double and Schumaker's sacrifice fly.

Looking back, Cosart wish he could have back that chance at the double play. He didn't remember that happening to him all year and said he "picked a pretty bad time to have one" in the middle of a postseason race.

"We lost bottom line because I couldn't do a PFP," Cosart said. "Key at-bat was the ball I got right back to me and hit off my glove, put a guy on first and second, ended up walking a guy. Put Hatcher in a really bad spot. Just baseball but I've got to make that play.

"You're going to lose some of those, obviously, I was giving it everything I had. Pitch just sailed up and in on me. It was a really good at-bat by (Mesoraco). When I had the other rough inning I was able to get out of a jam. I wish I was able to get out of that one. Like I said I put Hatcher in a bad spot because I couldn't field a ball right back at me. Nine times out of 10 bases loaded one out they're going to get at least one. Nothing he could've done about it. If I make that play it's still 1-1 going to the bottom of the sixth."

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.