Urena wins first as Marlins sink Rockies
MIAMI -- The second time around was more of the same for Marlins rookie right-hander Jose Urena -- but with a better result. Facing the Rockies for the second time in five days, Urena allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings, and J.T. Realmuto and Martin Prado belted home runs in Miami's 5-1 victory Friday night at Marlins Park.
Making his fourth big league start, Urena collected his first win. The right-hander gave up one run in six innings at Coors Field in a no-decision on Sunday. In the eighth inning, Realmuto broke open a close game with a three-run homer off Scott Oberg.
Video: COL@MIA: Urena scatters six hits over six-plus frames
Rockies right-hander Kyle Kendrick gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings, and he's now 14-4 in 23 starts in his career against Miami.
The lone run Urena yielded came with one out in the seventh inning on Carlos Gonzalez's opposite-field homer on a 3-1 offering. The blast snapped a string of 17 straight Rockies scoreless innings.
Video: COL@MIA: CarGo homers to pull Rox within a run
"That was a great outing by Jose. Just a tremendous outing by that kid," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "The thing that is so impressive about him is the way he competes, and he challenges in the strike zone pitch after pitch and did a great job to set the tone the way he did. He pitched aggressive in the strike zone, used his changeup very effective. And great to see. That's four straight wins at home. I think we've won six out of our last seven."
The Marlins opened the scoring in the fourth on Marcell Ozuna's two-out RBI single to center. It was an eventful nine-pitch showdown for Ozuna, who had what would have been a two-run homer overturned by replay. Christian Yelich singled, stole second and scored on Ozuna's liner to center.
Video: COL@MIA: Crew chief review determines homer is a foul
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ozuna prevails in nine-pitch showdown: Ozuna's liner down the left-field line was foul by inches. Still, on the ninth pitch he saw from Kendrick in the fourth inning, Ozuna laced an RBI single. In one of those "only in baseball moments," Ozuna nearly was a triple shy of the cycle in one at-bat. With Yelich on second, Ozuna launched a towering drive to left that sailed near the foul pole. It was ruled a two-run homer, only to be overturned after a short review. Ozuna then nearly doubled, only to have the ball ruled foul again. He wasn't denied on pitch No. 9, however.
Video: COL@MIA: Ozuna puts Marlins on board with RBI single
"It was unbelievable. With two outs, I was trying to get ready for my pitch, and swinging," Ozuna said. "That's what happens when you don't lose your focus." More >
Urena stays sharp: Urena once again was on point against Colorado. The Miami rookie followed up his impressive start at Coors Field on Sunday by inducing two double-play grounders and not allowing a runner to advance past second until Gonzalez's one-out homer in the seventh. In his last three starts, Urena has allowed five runs in 18 2/3 innings (2.41 ERA). More >
Kendrick keeps it close: In danger of letting the Marlins extend their 2-0 lead, Kendrick quickly closed the door in the sixth inning. Following Prado's solo homer, Yelich walked and Giancarlo Stanton singled with no outs. But Kendrick responded to force Ozuna into a popout and Justin Bour into a flyout before Realmuto popped out to end the threat. More >
Video: COL@MIA: Kendrick strikes out four over 6 2/3
Rally stalls: The Rockies' offense couldn't keep the momentum going from Gonzalez's homer. Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Ben Paulsen notched a double off Carter Capps to open the inning. But Nick Hundley and pinch-hitter Rafael Ynoa followed with strikeouts before Charlie Blackmon popped out to end the frame.
"We haven't certainly got the timely hit here the last couple days," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We've been doing that pretty well over the last couple weeks. We just have to fight through these tough times when they show up." More >
QUOTABLE
"Cappy, he's an uncomfortable at-bat. He's a guy that challenges with his stuff. He's blessed with a great arm that gets up to 100 mph. He's not afraid to rush it over the plate and mix in his secondary pitches. Tonight he was able to do that. He's showing signs more and more of not letting a leadoff hit stand in his way. He's out there on a mission to complete that inning and he's out there doing that." -- Jennings, on Capps working around the leadoff double in the eighth
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With his single in the fourth inning, Yelich has now hit safely in 17 of his last 19 games.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: David Hale (2-0, 4.12 ERA) gets the call for the third game of the four-game series Saturday at 2:10 p.m. MT. Hale, coming off a win against St. Louis, will make his first road start with Colorado.
Marlins: Mat Latos (1-4, 6.12) is returning from the disabled list, where he has been recovering from left knee inflammation. Latos, who last started on May 21, is 5-2 (3.79) lifetime against the Rockies.
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