Struggling Urena again unable to solve Braves

Right-hander records second consecutive five-run, four-inning start

July 24th, 2018

MIAMI -- After being walked off by the Rays on Sunday, the Marlins entered Monday ready to turn the page and regroup with their Opening Day starter, , taking the mound against the Braves.
But Freddie Freeman greeted Urena with a two-run homer in the first inning and Dansby Swanson connected on a solo shot in the second, and the Marlins were unable to recover in a 12-1 loss at Marlins Park.
"It wasn't one of Jose's best," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "With Freddie, he left that breaking ball kind of sitting there for him. He hangs one to Swanson the next inning. We just couldn't really stop them."

provided his own bit of power with a home run to lead off the second inning, but that was all Miami could manufacture off lefty , who worked around traffic in six innings, scattering four hits while striking out five and walking four.
Charlie Culberson added two doubles and recorded a career-high four hits, as eight of the Braves' 16 hits went for extra bases.
"They had a good approach," Urena said. "I threw a slider for the first home run [to Freeman] on a 3-2 pitch. I feel fine. Just keep doing my thing and keep fighting."

Urena lasted four innings, giving up five runs on six hits, with four strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter.
It marked the second straight four-inning, five-run start for Urena, who was given extra rest coming out of the All-Star break. Urena last pitched against the Phillies on July 15, in a game the Marlins won, 10-5.
Urena went on the 10-day disabled list after his June 20 start in San Francisco for a right shoulder impingement. The fact that he has allowed 10 earned runs in his last eight innings has caused some concern.

"I think it's something we probably should talk about with him to see where he's at, making sure that he is feeling 100 percent," Mattingly said. "It's been a little different since he's come back from the shoulder."
Atlanta did some two-out damage against Urena in the second and third innings. Following Swanson's second-inning homer, added a two-run single in the third.

The Braves have long given the right-hander trouble throughout his career. This season, Urena is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA against his NL East rival.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Before the Braves broke the game wide open, the Marlins had a bases-loaded, one-out chance in the fourth inning after three consecutive singles. But Newcomb worked out of it, striking out and to preserve a four-run lead.
"We had our chances early to kind of get back in the game," Mattingly said. "J.B.'s homer kind of gets us back on the board. We had a couple of chances. Newcomb was a little bit wild today. We had some guys out there. We just weren't able to get that hit early to get us back truly into the game, and they just kept scoring."

said the team let some chances slip away.
"We didn't do a good job staying aggressive on him," Rojas said. "He was erratic, but he got a couple of double plays to get out of innings. We put a lot of people on base, but we didn't really get a big hit. I feel that was the difference between having a close game and a blowout like that."

SOUND SMART
's relay with to throw out trying to stretch a double into a triple was the rookie's team-leading seventh outfield assist.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Bour's home run in the second inning was a no-doubter, and it came off a lefty. Statcast™ projected the blast at 431 feet, with an exit velocity of 105.6 degrees and a launch angle of 23 percent. It was Bour's 16th homer of the season and second against a southpaw.

HE SAID IT
"I think it's a back spasm. I don't think it's anything to worry about or is serious. But I have to see how I wake up tomorrow." -- Rojas, on being replaced in the late innings. He is expected to be fine, but he likely will get Tuesday off since there also is an off-day on Wednesday.

UP NEXT
These teams won't have much time to dwell on Monday night's result because there is a quick turnaround. Tuesday's game at Marlins Park starts at 12:10 p.m. ET, with taking the mound for Miami. Chen has been drastically better at home, sporting a 1.83 ERA, compared to 10.47 on the road. goes for Atlanta.