JUPITER, Fla. -- Tom Koehler got the win in relief on Saturday when Matt den Dekker tripled and scored on a sixth-inning single by Boo Vazquez to make the difference in the Marlins' 3-2 win over the Tigers at Roger Dean Stadium.
Miami's No. 3 starter made one final tuneup in the Grapefruit League season finale. He came out of the bullpen to throw three innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Koehler struck out three and didn't walk a batter, although he did hit Tigers catcher James McCann on the left hand with a pitch. McCann was taken out of the game for precautionary measures.
Nicholas Castellanos (2-for-2) gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first inning off Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen. He stretched a looping hit in right field into a double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Justin Upton. It was the only earned run allowed by Chen this spring that wasn't a home run.
Chen went three innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking two and striking out one. He threw 49 pitches (30 strikes) and worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning thanks to the quick reactions of Justin Bour. The Marlins' first baseman speared a line drive off the bat of Andrew Romine and touched the bag to double off Alex Avila, who drew one of two walks issued by Chen in the inning. The left-hander got out of the inning with a check-swing grounder to second.
"There's still some little things I need to work on more, but overall I think I'm ready for the season," Chen said.
The Marlins got that run back in the third inning off Tigers starter Daniel Norris on consecutive two-out singles from Ichiro Suzuki, Dee Gordon (2-for-2) and A.J. Ellis in order.
Norris, who was informed following the outing that he would begin the season as the Tigers' No. 3 starter in the rotation, went 2 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on five hits, threw 41 pitches (29 strikes), and faced the minimum to that point despite allowing a hit in each of the first two innings. Gordon opened the bottom of the first with a single, but was picked off, and Bour singled in the second but was erased on a double play.
"I'm ready to go. I can't wait," said Norris of his spot in the upcoming season.
Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich was a late scratch because of tightness in his legs.
"I'm fine," Yelich said. "I just had trouble getting loose today."
Tigers Up Next: The Tigers open the regular season at 4:10 p.m. ET Monday in Chicago to face the White Sox. Right-hander Justin Verlander will be the Tigers' Opening Day starter. The game can be seen on MLB.TV.
Marlins Up Next: Miami opens its regular season at Washington on Monday. Don Mattingly is giving the ball to right-hander Edinson Volquez. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET. The game can be seen free on MLB.TV.
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