The Miami Marlins cruised to a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Connor Norby paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Max Meyer turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with four strikeouts. The Mets out-hit the Marlins 6-3 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Marlins as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Connor Norby was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Marlins offense.
Heriberto Hernández added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Francisco Alvarez led the Mets offense with a 2-for-3 with a double day. Marcus Semien also contributed, going 1-for-3. Carson Benge added a 1-for-4 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Marlins pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Max Meyer earned the win after grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 39 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was excellent, combining for 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out eight. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Josh Ekness recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Michael Petersen stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Marlins struck first, plating a run in the first inning. The Marlins tacked on a run in the sixth. Mets out-hit the Marlins 6-3, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 4,083 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Marlins, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Marlins are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
