Fish Wrap: Marlins 0, Rays 4

by GameFish on May 22, 2011 4:12 PM EDT in News and Rumors

Jay Buente had some pretty big shoes to fill when he stepped on the mound in place of an injured Josh Johnson on Sunday Afternoon. But Jay's four-run, three-inning outing was the least of the Marlins concerns as James Shields stole the show and pitched a complete game shutout of the Fish, allowing just three hits and striking out 13 to keep the Tampa Bay Rays from being swept at Sun Life Stadium.

Buente didn't have a great afternoon on the mound, though he was helped by a little bad defense behind him in the second. With one out, Jay walked Casey Kotchman, and gave up singles to Sean Rodriguez and Kelly Shoppach to load the bases. James Shields was up next, and his ground ball to third should have ended the inning. But Greg Dobbs bobbled it, and everybody was safe on the play as Kotchman scored. Elliot Johnson's fielder's choice scored Rodriguez next, and with Johnny Damon at bat, Brett Hayes threw Elliot out at second for the final out of the inning.

The Rays added two more in the third. Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce doubled, and after Upton struck out, Kotchman tripled them in to give the Rays a 4-0 lead.

The Marlins bullpen took over for Buente after the third, and Brian Sanches, Burke Badenhop and Clay Hensley pitched a combined six scoreless innings. Since James Shields had the lineup looking like a bunch of deer in headlights, however, the game was over.

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Honestly, you're going to have games like that.

I don’t think anyone would’ve hit Shields today. The guy just had an insane game.

Kind of wish they’d get it over with and just start the Hopper already, though. Or Sanches, if they feel he can handle the innings.

I mean, let’s hope JJ comes back on schedule, Vazquez has really found his feet, Volstad settles down a bit, everyone remains healthy, and we don’t NEED another starter. But if we do, I’d rather take a proven major-league pitcher and ask him to adapt to a role than bring up a guy who doesn’t have major-league stuff.

Bass and sharks are BOTH fish.

by 3.3seconds on May 22, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

maybe replace buente with ceda or cishek

And have a designated hopper/sanches bullpen 5th starter, if jj is only expected to miss 2-3 starts

by dgriot on May 22, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure I'm ready to say Vazquez has found his feet yet...

One start does not an ace make. If he can start being consistantly good, then fine. The taste of 6 runs in the 1st inning hasn’t quite left my mouth yet. I WILL say that Saturday’s start postponed my call to banish him to the bullpen, but he needs to show it wasn’t a fluke.

Florida Marlins: 2011 Wild Card Winners

by marlinsfan315 on May 23, 2011 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions