Marlins survive injury scare, defeat Mets, 3-1

JUPITER, Fla.—The Marlins started their first winning streak of the spring, defeating the New York Mets, 3-1.

Lewis Brinson continued to have success at the plate, battling with Mets pitcher Jason Vargas in the second. After getting to a 2-2 count, Brinson lined a ball into shallow left for his first single of the spring. Brian Anderson also showed production from the No. 2 spot, hitting 2-for-3.

In the second inning, Marlins fans once again held their breath.

A week after catcher Jorge Alfaro hurt his right knee running into a dugout railing, he pulled up lame again after a slide into second base. After a popup by Rosell Herrera, Alfaro slid back into the base awkwardly and was thrown out. Afterwards, he rolled around for a moment, and walked gingerly off the field under a trainer’s assistance.

Just like last week, however, Alfaro emerged from the dugout the next inning in full catcher’s gear. Alfaro proceeded to throw out Danny Espinosa on a steal attempt the very next inning. He finished the day 2-for-2 at the plate.

“I just slid into second base...and just got stuck with the base, like too close to the base,. [The coaches] just come to me and ask me how I feel and all that. I feel good, I felt good the whole game, the four innings that I caught, the two at-bats, running the bases.”

Don Mattingly said he is expected to be in the lineup tomorrow as long as he feels fine.

The Fish took advantage of poor defense by the Mets. They committed four errors, including one by former Marlin Braxton Lee in the 8th inning to give the Marlins the late go-ahead run. All three of the Marlins’ runs were unearned.

Meanwhile, Sandy Alcántara benefited from solid defense behind him. Although he allowed no runs in 3 ²⁄₃ innings, he allowed a lot of hard contact.

Alcántara acknowledged that he had trouble staying out of the middle of the zone.

“Today I felt a little bit uncomfortable, because I was like around all the places, not around the zone,” he said.

Riley Ferrell, who the Marlins picked up in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason, continued to impress: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 2 K.

Marlins No. 18 prospect Jordan Yamamoto had the only blemish for the pitching staff today. He walked two and allowed a run in the sixth inning on a line drive to centerfield.

The Fish are back in action for a split-squad doubleheader. One group of players will go to West Palm Beach to face the Houston Astros. The other group will stay in Jupiter to play the Atlanta Braves.

Neither game will be televised, but Fish Stripes will be on site for the latter game. Nick Neidert will take the mound for the Fish at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. He hopes to improve after his sub-par debut in which he gave up two runs in a single inning.

Marlins vs. Mets box score (MLB.com)

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