Marlins frustrated -- not yet concerned -- by poor start to season
NEW YORK -- Gold Glover Christian Yelich raced into the left-center gap and dove for the ball off Ruben Tejada's bat during the pivotal fourth inning of Sunday's matinee between the Miami Marlins and New York Mets.
But Yelich, no stranger to web gems, watched it land inches out of his reach, clearing the bases and cementing the seven-run decisive outburst in a 7-6 loss at Citi Field.
When asked about the play following the game, all Yelich could do was laugh and pause before answering. After two weeks, this play epitomizes how things have gone for the Marlins. It's no longer a surprise.
"We're not going to make excuses or anything like that because we got beat out there," Yelich said. "It's not bouncing our way that's for sure. I don't know, man. Like you said, it's frustrating. It's going to turn around. That's all you can do is really just keep battling, keep grinding and we're going to turn around."
A boisterous crowd of 41,234 witnessed the visiting Marlins stumble to 3-10, remaining in the National League East cellar. It matches the ugly -- yet expected -- beginning to the 2013 season when a rebuilding ballclub penciled in end-of-the-road veterans and baby-faced rookies.
The optimism nurtured over the offseason and into spring training seems more than just inches away. Miami has dropped three of four series and finds itself seven games back. The club held a closed-door meeting on Saturday.
"I wouldn't say it's a concern, but definitely a frustration," said right-hander Tom Koehler, who tossed three perfect frames before being chased in the fourth. "To say you're concerned when you've played 13 of 162, you can't do that. But you can certainly say you're frustrated. Nobody in this clubhouse enjoys to lose. We want to win. Right now we're in a little funk, but we can't dwell on it. We've got to go out there and keep playing."
Making these struggles even tougher to bear is watching a divisional opponent go on a torrid streak. The Mets have now won eight straight for the first time since 2010.
In an alternate timeline, the Marlins are riding high with righty Henderson Alvarez in the rotation. They would be finishing up their 10-game trip in Philadelphia before returning home to expectant crowds.
Instead, fans donning orange and blue erupted into cheers after each strike thrown by Mets ace Matt Harvey on Sunday in Queens. The wave picked up during the seventh inning, emulating a raucous playoff atmosphere six months ahead of schedule.
"They're playing really well right now and we're not," Yelich said. "That's no secret. We've got to do a better job and we've got to turn it around."
Added manager Mike Redmond: "There is a level of frustration there, but that's mostly because we're losing games. If we continue to battle back and fighting and keep putting together at bats, we're going to get on the other end of these games. We've got to get this pitching straightened out, and get these guys deeper into games to give us opportunities. We'll figure out a way to put some zeroes up on that board."
Yelich, who is 2 for 22 (.091) on this trip, tossed his equipment after striking out for the seventh time in two games in the seventh with a runner at third.
After the game, when a comeback fell short for the second straight day, Yelich spoke up about him needing to perform better. He knows his team needs him to do so in order to reverse its fortune.
"It's been a frustrating couple weeks for everybody," Yelich said. "It's no secret. I got pissed right there. That's where it culminated a little bit and now you let it go. You got mad, you got frustrated, now it's over. You've got to move on. That's how baseball works. Get your butt kicked and then you have to turn the page 'cause it's coming right back at you the next day. That's what we're going to do. I'm proud of these guys for fighting. We're going to be all right."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
