MIAMI -- If he continues at this rate, José Ureña could eventually shed the "spot-starter" label and become a fixture in the Marlins' rotation.
The hard-throwing 24-year-old impressed on Sunday for the second consecutive outing since being called up from Triple-A New Orleans. The final score didn't go his way, as the Marlins fell to the Mets, 3-0, at Marlins Park, but Urena is making a case to remain a starter.
"He's basically gone out two times in a row and kept the ball down and did a good job for us," manager Don Mattingly said. "He kept us in both of those games. I think you have to look at him as a guy, at this point, who keeps getting the ball."
Urena, who pitched in relief for the Marlins earlier in the season, gave up one run on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks in six innings. His fastball topped out at 97 mph.

Urena is an interesting option for Miami because he has a power arm, and he could profile in several different roles. He's already been a spot starter and long reliever in the big leagues. He's also a potential late-inning, hard-throwing reliever.
But he has been groomed as a starter, and Sunday was his longest outing of the season.
"I'm just being focused, trying to control the things I can control," Urena said. "I'm trying to make a quality pitch. If something happens, I'd be ready for it."
Most importantly for Urena is he's pounding the zone, throwing strikes and eliminating walks.
In his two starts since joining the rotation, Urena has given up two runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in 11 2/3 innings. He made his first start on Tuesday in Philadelphia, receiving a no-decision in a game Miami won, 2-1.
"I feel a little different," Urena said. "I'm trying to take advantage, pitch by pitch. It feels better."
The Marlins are exploring rotation options on the trade market, and their search likely intensified on Sunday, when Wei-Yin Chen was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow sprain. Jarred Cosart has been called up from New Orleans and will start on Monday against the Phillies.
The hope is Chen will miss just a couple of starts.
Miami has been linked to several pitchers believed to be on the trade market, including right-handers Jeremy Hellickson (Phillies) and Andrew Cashner (Padres) and lefty Matt Moore (Rays).