Crazy day for Marlins ends with near no-hitter
For the second time this season, a young pitcher lost out on the chance to complete a no-hitter because his pitch count was climbing. Marlins lefty Adam Conley was pulled from Friday’s game against the Brewers after throwing a career-high 116 pitches. He was four outs away from the no-hitter.
Righty Jose Urena replaced Conley, then recorded the final out in the eighth and the first out of the ninth before allowing a bloop single to Jonathan Lucroy. Alex Presley, Ramon Flores, and Colin Walsh followed with hits later in the inning. The Marlins eventually hung on to win the game 6-3 (box score).
Needless to say, pulling Conley when he was only four outs shy of making history was surely a tough decision for manager Don Mattingly. He opted to protect the young man’s arm rather than go for history. Here are four things to know about the game.
1. The decision was difficult, but it was the right one.
This was not the first time this season a young pitcher has been pulled in the middle of a no-hitter. Earlier this month Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling was no-hitting the Giants when he was pulled with one out in the eighth due to his pitch count. The very next batter hit a game-tying home run.
No-hitters are really cool and are obviously historic, but Conley’s future and career are more important than any one game. He’s a very impressive young pitcher and letting him throw too many pitches in an effort to chase history is not fair to him. He threw 116 pitches Friday after throwing no more than 95 pitches in any of his other four starts this season.
Is Conley disappointed? I’m sure of it. Who wouldn’t be? At the same time, Conley should be happy to know his manager and organization are looking out for his long-term well-being. The big picture was not ignored.
2. Should Mattingly have gone to his closer to “save” the no-hitter?
Here’s an interesting question: with the Marlins up six runs, should Mattingly have gone to closer A.J. Ramos in an effort to clinch the no-hitter? The idea would be using your best reliever to record those last three outs to finish the no-no.
The answer is an easy “no” for me. Pulling Conley was about the big picture and the same is true of not using Ramos. Unless he needs the work, you don’t want to use your closer up six runs because you may need him tomorrow and the day after that as well. You want to rest your bullpen whenever possible.
Now, Ramos ended up entering the game anyway because Urena made a mess in the ninth — the Brewers were able to get the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs — but the point is you shouldn’t change your strategy just to finish off a no-hitter.
3. What a crazy 24 hours for the Marlins.
Wow, what a day for the Marlins. Early Friday morning MLB announced All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon had been suspended 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, then, later than night, Conley was flirting with a no-hitter. Oh, and they were on the wrong end of a triple play Friday too. Look:
Coincidentally enough, the hit that ended the no-hitter was a bloop to shallow right field that fill-in second baseman Derek Dietrich was unable to run down. Does the speedy Gordon make that catch? Maybe! Of course, Gordon’s presence would have changed the game entirely. The no-hitter could have ended in the first inning had he been in the lineup.
This was a busy and emotionally draining 24 hours for the Marlins. They finished a sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles Thursday night — Mattingly’s return to Dodger Stadium — learned Gordon was suspended after the game, flew to Milwaukee, hit into a triple play, then flirted with a no-hitter. Woof. They’ll sleep well tonight.
4. This was almost the first no-hitter at Miller Park that involved the Brewers.
Here’s a fun fact: there has only been one no-hitter in Miller Park history, and it was neither thrown by nor against the Brewers. Cubs righty Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros at Miller Park in 2008. Hurricane Ike forced the game to be moved from Houston to Milwaukee. The streak of no-hitters in Milwaukee that do not involve the Brewers lives on!
Adam Conley was lifted four outs shy of a no-hitter Friday. (USATSI)
