Nationals Hit New Low, Turn Notorious Urena into a Star
Jose Urena’s previous start ended after one very heated pitch. On Sunday, he went the distance.
Should Miami starter Jose Urena be suspended for throwing at Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with his first pitch of last night's game? pic.twitter.com/p2pkAGG303
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) August 16, 2018
Urena (4-12) was suspended for six games by Major League Baseball after hitting Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. on Wednesday with the first pitch of the game in Atlanta. He appealed the penalty, keeping him eligible to play for the moment.
Urena made the most of his borrowed time, pitching a two-hitter for his first complete game in the majors and leading the otherwise woeful Miami Marlins to a win over the Washington Nationals 12-1 on Sunday.
“I know what I did, and I know what kind of person I am and what kind of teammate,” Urena said. “Just tried to execute my plan and go out there and have fun and show what I can do.”
Urena, tied for the NL lead in hit batters, didn’t plunk anyone on the Nationals, nor did he alter his approach. He struck out four, walked two and retired the last 16 batters. It was his first complete game in 74 big league starts.
“If you make a mistake you’ve got to pay,” Urena said of Washington’s lineup. “We tried to move their feet, make them uncomfortable at the plate. Try to attack the inside.”
Right-hander Pablo Lopez was originally slated to start Sunday’s game, but manager Don Mattingly opted to push him back to Tuesday and insert Urena.
The 26-year-old right-hander’s next start would normally be scheduled for next weekend at home against the Braves. Urena could decide to drop the appeal, serve the suspension and miss that series — after Sunday’s game, he said he’ll maintain the appeal.
Starlin Castro got a career-high five hits and scored three times. JT Riddle and J.T. Realmuto each homered and drove in three runs for Miami, with Riddle connecting for the second straight game. Isaac Galloway had three hits, including his first career homer.
It was the Marlins’ first series win in Washington since 2014.
Trying to keep pace with the Braves and Phillies in the NL East, the third-place Nationals have now lost four of their last five against the last-place Marlins. The Nationals host the Phillies for three games beginning Tuesday night.
Gio Gonzalez (7-10) allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Over his last 13 starts, Gonzalez is 1-8 with 7.07 ERA.
“I think it was, in all honesty, an ugly game. And everybody saw it,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Gio couldn’t keep us in the game and it got ugly.”
Making matters even worse, it’s not like the Nationals were facing one of MLB’s best pitchers. Urena, even forgetting his current disciplinary situation, simply isn’t that good. His 4-12 record speaks for itself, as does his ERA, which sits at 4.50 even after that stellar game against the Nationals.
Leading 3-1, the Marlins broke it open with a five-run fifth. After Riddle’s sacrifice fly, the Marlins loaded the bases and Rafael Ortega hit a bases-loaded, two-run double off the glove of a diving first baseman Matt Adams to end Gonzalez’s afternoon.
Realmuto greeted reliever Greg Holland with a two-run single, making it 8-1.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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