Capps' impressive fastball on the radar
MIAMI -- The roar of the crowd on Saturday night got louder with each radar reading posted on the scoreboard.
In the seventh and eighth innings, Miami reliever Carter Capps was riling up the fans with fastballs that reached 99, 100 and as much as 101 mph.
Capps tries to block out distractions and stay focused on throwing strikes and getting batters out.
"You can tell the crowd gets loud," Capps said Sunday. "I don't know if it is somebody streaking on the field or they're doing the wave, or what."
The "what" on Saturday night was Capps' blazing fastballs in the seventh and eighth innings of Miami's 9-7 loss to the Dodgers in a game that lasted 11 innings.
"I'm just trying to get guys out," Capps said. "That's all that matters."
On a night the Marlins lost a tough game, Capps became a story lost in the overall story of the night.
Miami is looking for late-inning relief consistency. Capps could become an option.
The right-hander retired all six he faced, with three strikeouts.
Capps was acquired last December from Seattle for Logan Morrison.
The reports on Capps before the trade were he had a power arm, but his delivery is a bit unorthodox, and throwing strikes was at times an issue.
At the time of the trade, the Marlins noted they discovered an issue with Capps mechanics. In Spring Training, he worked with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bullpen coach Reid Cornelius.
Because his mechanics were still being ironed out, Capps opened the season at Triple-A New Orleans, where he had a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings with 17 strikeouts and six walks.
"I was definitely disappointed," Capps said of not making the Opening Day roster. "But I obviously had things I needed to clean up with my delivery. I understand the organization's decision."
New Orleans pitching coach Charlie Corbell is credited with helping Capps clean up some issues with his tempo and arm slot.
"It was right there at the end of spring, and I carried it into the season," Capps said. "I was ready to go from the get-go at New Orleans. "