Latos making strides, warns Marlins will be dangerous
Righty allows two runs, strikes out five in five innings in loss to Mets
NEW YORK -- The Marlins clearly are down right now, but right-hander Mat Latos cautions not to count the club out.
Latos made strides on the mound, giving up two runs while striking out five in five innings in Miami's 5-4 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. With the way Jacob deGrom was throwing, Latos was removed for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.
Miami rallied for three runs in the ninth but came up just short, falling to 3-9 on the season.
"It's tough right now," Latos said. "The best part about it is it's April. We're not going to win anything in April or May. The playoffs don't start in May. We all have to come together, which we are. We play as 25. We've got a great ballclub. It's just a matter of putting things together."
Miami is 2-4 on the road trip, having dropped three straight at New York.
On Saturday, Dee Gordon had a five-hit game, and he continues to be the most consistent player in the early going.
"Dee is swinging a hot bat," Latos said. "I'm starting to throw the ball like I used to. We've got a couple of guys who are just scuffling, including myself. If you look at my first two outings, they weren't the greatest. It's just putting it all together.
"It's early. We take the bad when the bad comes. I'll tell you what, when we put it all together, pitching, defense and hitting, there's going to be hell to pay. We're a great ballclub. I believe that. It [stinks] real bad right now."