It’s too bad that fans in Miami don’t care about baseball. Today’s finale between the Pirates and Marlins featured two of the top up-and-coming pitchers in baseball. Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Pirates, took the hill for his ninth career start. Opposing him is 20-year-old phenom, Jose Fernandez, selected after Cole in the draft, for the Marlins. Both pitchers showed why they are as hyped as they are, but Fernandez made one less mistake than Cole en route to a 3-2 Marlins victory.
The Pirates offense found its stride early on against Fernandez, as they put up a two-spot in the top of the second inning. After a Pedro Alvarez single, Russell Martin hit a double to the gap to plate El Toro. Clint Barmes, starting in place of Jordy Mercer, followed with a single to score Martin and make the score 2-0 Pirates.
While it looked as if the offense would produce, Fernandez silenced the bats the rest of the way, allowing just five hits over his eight innings of work. It seems like every pitcher records their career high in strikeouts against the Pirates, but Fernandez earned each one of his 13. As Jonah Keri put it, Fernandez is a young King Felix.
Cole was impressive as well, but after a two-run fourth by the Marlins, Cole left one up to Giancarlo Stanton that he put out of the park for his second home run of the series.
The Pirates offense needs help and with the trade deadline just days away, the market is starting to turn from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market.
The Pirates will look to re-focus and play its biggest series in PNC Park history as the St. Louis Cardinals come to town for a five-game set.
Francisco Liriano (10-4, 2.23 ERA) will oppose Jake Westbrook (7-4, 2.95 ERA) in the opener. First pitch is schedule for 7:05 p.m.
