Latos keeps fighting for Marlins with solid start
Righty ignores trade speculation, allows two earned runs in six innings
MIAMI -- With the non-waiver Trade Deadline approaching, Marlins starter Mat Latos knows he can only control so much -- particularly, his performance, which was solid in Tuesday's 5-3 win against the Giants at Marlins Park.
Conscious of what may loom in the future, the veteran righty went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. The 27-year-old who has been traded twice in his career and is slated to become a free agent at season's end walked none and struck out four on 90 pitches.
"It's a business and I've been a part of it quite a bit," Latos (3-5, 5.27 ERA) said of trade rumors. "I'm not worried about it. Until the day comes where they tell me that they're going to throw me out of the clubhouse, I'm going to fight for this team and pitch the way I know I can. Nothing else I can do about it, right? Unless I want to go beg [manager Dan Jennings] not to trade me. I'm not going to do that. It's a business. It is what it is."
The outing marked Latos' fourth since recovering from a knee injury and coming off the 15-day disabled list June 13.
In those starts, he's recorded two wins and allowed three or fewer runs three times while logging 25 2/3 innings. His lone blemish was a loss Wednesday against the Cardinals in which he gave up five runs in seven innings and was strong other than allowing a couple of home runs for two of the three surrendered hits.
"I feel great," he said. "I can actually run the bases and not limp. With my pitching, I can get over my front side a lot better. The velocity is there. The velocity wasn't there today, it was down. But the velocity has showed up, so you see how healthy I am. I'm just trying to keep getting into a rhythm and do what I need to do."
On Tuesday, the Giants' first run came in the first inning in unearned fashion. Buster Posey then hit a solo homer off Latos in the third, before San Francisco scored its final run in the sixth on a wild pitch. All in all, it was mostly stress-free pitching for the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder.
"Latos certainly set the tone and grinded out there," Jennings said. "He went through six and the most important part of that, he didn't walk anyone. He gave up three, but only two earned, and put us in a position to turn it over to the bullpen, which did a tremendous job."