Caleb Smith spectacular again in 4-2 Marlins win

MIAMI—Another day, another dominant performance from Caleb Smith. The lefty was nearly untouchable through seven innings in a 4-2 victory for the Miami Marlins against the Cleveland Indians. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Fish.

• Corey Kluber 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (57 pitches)
• Caleb Smith: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (92 pitches)

Just like Tuesday night, Miami got on the board right away, again thanks to a Brian Anderson single to score Miguel Rojas.

However, the lead was safe this time, as Smith silenced the Indians lineup by showing trust in and command of all of his pitches. Apart from a solo home run in the third, he was virtually unstoppable. Lasting a season-high seven innings of work, Smith struck out eight batters.

He has racked up six or more strikeouts in six straight games to begin his 2019 campaign. The last Marlins player to do that was José Fernández (21 straight).

In the clubhouse afterwards, Smith said this is the best he’s felt since 2017 when he was pitching with the New York Yankees.

“I feel like I can throw strikes whenever I want to. I feel like I can throw all of my pitches for strikes whenever I want to,” Smith said.

On the offensive side, Rosell Herrera had his biggest night as a Miami Marlin. He had a 2-RBI double in the fourth, followed by another RBI base hit in the sixth. Coming into Wednesday, Herrera had 3 RBI all season. He doubled that total in one night.

Herrera also contributed in the field with a diving catch in center field in the seventh inning.

A scary moment transpired in the fifth inning, when a 102 MPH line drive off Brian Anderson’s bat hit Corey Kluber in his pitching arm.

He exited the game immediately. X-Rays revealed that he suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right ulna. The veteran workhorse figures to be looking at a significant absence.

For the second straight game, Miami’s offense produced at least four runs. But consistency has been an issue—they have yet to put together a three-game streak at any point this season.

The Marlins split the series with Cleveland. They have an off day on Thursday before starting a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday. José Ureña will take the hill for Miami. Ureña is coming off one of his best starts of the season, in which he allowed 2 ER in 7 IP.

Indians vs. Marlins box score (MLB.com)

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