Florida Marlins vs. Colorado Rockies: A Progressive Game Recap

I know that you can get your box scores and your recaps just about everywhere, so what I am attempting to write here is a game recap with a slide for each half inning.  I'm not looking for 1000 page views here; I know the audience is small for these two clubs on B/R.  If you like it or hate it, leave a comment.

The Marlins come in losers of nine of their last 10, and since starting the season 29-19 have gone a terrible 27-45.  Florida plays much better on the road, so they shouldn't be too disappointed at leaving Sun Life Stadium.  The Marlins currently sit at 56-64, 13.5 games behind division-leading Philadelphia.  They bring Clay Hensley (1-4, 4.50 ERA) to the mound.

The Rockies have won only four of their last 10 games, and are currently 56-66, 14.5 games behind the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.  Kevin Millwood (0-1, 3.86 ERA) will be pitching for Colorado.

Both teams will be looking to improve on disappointing seasons.

Top 1st

Kevin Millwood Pitching

Due Up: Emilio Bonifacio, Bryan Petersen, Mike Stanton

The players take the field.  Millwood tosses a couple of warmup pitches. 

Bonifacio has never faced Millwood.  First pitch inside, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, showing bunt, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, low and outside, ball, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, fouled left, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, called strike three.

Petersen has also never faced Millwood.  First pitch, outside corner called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, high, 1-1.  Third pitch, Petersen drilled it off the wall, standup triple.

Stanton has faced Millwood three times before and has never gotten on base.  First pitch, swinging strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, high and outside, 1-1.  Third pitch, fouled back, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, ball high, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, POW!  It went like 460 feet!  Two-run homer to left center.  Marlins up 2-0.

Dobbs' first appearance against Millwood.  First pitch, strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, deep to left center, Dexter Fowler makes a running grab, two outs.

Gaby has a double and a walk in four plate appearances against Millwood.  First pitch, strike.  Second pitch, strike. Third pitch, high and outside, 1-2. Fourth pitch, fouled left.  Fifth pitch, line drive to short, Tulowitzki catches on the fly, three outs.

Bottom 1st

Clay Hensley Pitching

Due Up: Eric Young, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez

Young has not faced Hensley.  First pitch called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, showing bunt, called strike two, 0-2.  Third pitch, low, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, low and inside, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, bouncer back to pitcher, tosses to Sanchez, out 1-3. 

Fowler is 2-for-2 with two singles against Hensley.  First strike, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, swinging 1-1.  Third pitch, foul down the right field line, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, low, ball two, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, swinging strike, strikeout.  Two outs.

Gonzalez is hitless in two plate appearances against Hensley.  First pitch low, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, fouled back, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, outside, ball, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, swinging strike three, three outs, 2-0 Marlins.

Top 2nd

Millwood Pitching

Due Up: John Buck, Dewayne Wise, Alfredo Amezaga

Buck is hitting .348 against Millwood in 25 plate appearances.  First pitch, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, grounder to second, 4-3 groundout.

Wise is hitting 2-for-2 against Millwood.  First pitch, strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, ball, 1-1.  Third pitch, swinging strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, base hit to left.  Runner on first, one out.

Amezaga has not faced Millwood.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, low, ball, 1-1.  Third pitch, pitchout, Wise cut down 2-6.  Two outs, nobody on.  Fourth pitch, driven to center, Fowler catches, three outs.  Marlins up 2-0.

Bottom 2nd

Hensley Pitching

Due Up: Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Giambi, Eliezer Alfonzo

In 12 plate appearances against Hensley, Tulowitzki has three singles.  First pitch, ball inside, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, high and inside, ball, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, grounder through the middle, base hit, zero out, man on first.

Giambi is 1-for-1 with a walk against Hensley.  Giambi singles to right, runners on first and second with no outs.

Alfonzo is 1-for-5 against Hensley.  First pitch, strike.  Second pitch, lined to left, out.  One out, runners on first and second.

Chris Nelson has never faced Hensley.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, grounder through the right side, bases loaded, one out.

Johnny Herrera 1-for-2 against Hensley.  First pitch, grounder to first, force play at second, 3-6, runner safe at first, one scores.  Marlins 2-1, runners on first and third, two outs.

Kevin Millwood hitting.  First pitch bounced foul.  Second pitch, swinging strike, 0-2.  Third pitch, weak grounder to short, out at first, 6-3.  Marlins 2, Rockies 1.

Top 3rd

Millwood Pitching

Due Up: Hensley, Bonifacio, Petersen

Hensley up to the plate.  Hensley does not have a hit this season.  First pitch, low and outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, outside, ball, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, high, ball, 3-1.  Fifth pitch, bounced foul down third base line, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, fouled back.  Seventh pitch, flied out to left field, one out.

Bonifacio struck out his first time up.  First pitch, low, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, showing bunt, ball, 2-0.  Third pitch, high, 3-0.  Fourth pitch, called strike, 3-1.  Fifth pitch, called strike, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, fouled left.  Seventh pitch, drilled a liner off the pitcher's foot to the third baseman.  Throw is late, safe at first.  One out, one on.

Petersen singled and scored his first time up.  First pitch, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, bunt safe at first.  Men at first and second, one out.

Stanton hit a two-run homer his first time up.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, ball outside, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, very high, swinging strike.  Strike three.  Runners on first and second, two outs.

Dobbs flied out his first time up.  First pitch outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, ball high, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, popped up to second, third out.  Marlins 2, Rockies 1.

Bottom 3rd

Hensley Pitching

Due Up: Eric Young, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez

Young grounded out to the pitcher his first time up.  First pitch, bunt safe at first.  Runner at first, no outs.

Fowler struck out his first time up.  First pitch, bunt foul, 0-1.  Second pitch, ball high, 1-1.  Third pitch, foul tip, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, low and inside, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, deep drive to center field, out.  One out, man on first.

Gonzalez struck out his first time up.  First pitch, high, ball one.  Second pitch, ball high, 2-0.  Third pitch, deep drive to right center, warning track out.  Two out, runner on first.

Tulowitzki singled and scored in the second.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, 56-foot slider, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, low and outside, runner steals second.  Fifth pitch, driven deep to left, two-run homer.  Rockies 3, Marlins 2.

Giambi singled in the second.  First pitch, grounded to second.  Out 4-3.

Top 4th

Millwood Pitching

Due Up: Gaby Sanchez, John Buck, Dewayne Wise

Sanchez lined out to short his first time up.  First pitch, ball low and outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, low, ball, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, double, runner on second, nobody out.

Buck grounded out in the second.  First pitch, ball.  Second pitch, foul.  Third pitch, two-run homer to right center.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Wise singled to left in the second.  First pitch, ball.  Second pitch, popped to shortstop, one out.

Amezaga flied out to center.  First pitch, flies out to center, two outs.

Hensley lined out to left in the second.  First pitch, called strike.  Second pitch, groundout to short, out 6-3.  Three outs.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Bottom 4th

Hensley Pitching

Due Up: Alfonzo, Nelson, Herrera

Alfonzo lined out to left his first time up.  First pitch, ball low outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, two-foot grounder, catcher picks the ball up and tags the runner.  One out.

Nelson singled to right in the second.  First pitch, foul.  Second pitch, ball low, 1-1.  Third pitch, ball high, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, driven to left, runner hustles to second, one out.

Herrara grounded into fielder's choice with an RBI in the second.  First pitch, low, 1-0.  Second pitch, line drive to right field, Stanton diving catch, two outs runner on second.

Millwood grounded out in the second.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, strike three swinging.  Runner left on second.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Top 5th

Millwood Pitching

Due Up: Bonifacio, Petersen, Stanton

Bonifacio is 1-for-2 with a strikeout.  First pitch, bunt, caught in the air by the third baseman, one out.

Petersen is 2-for-2 with a run.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, high fly ball to right field, two outs.

Stanton hit a 476-foot, two-run homer and struck out swinging.  First pitch, ball low, 1-0.  Second pitch, high, ball 2, 2-0.  Third pitch, low, 3-0.  Fourth pitch, high, ball four, runner on first, two outs.

Dobbs is 0-for-2 on the night.  First pitch, grounder to second, out 4-3.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Bottom 5th

Hensley Pitching

Due Up:, Young, Fowler, Gonzalez

Young is 1-for-2 with a run.  First pitch, low ball outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, flied out to right center, Wise catches for the first out.

Fowler is 0-for-2 with a strikeout.  First pitch, swinging strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, low, 1-1.  Third pitch, ball outside, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, driven to right center, Fowler gets three bases.  One out, man on third.

Gonzalez is 0-for-2 with a strikeout.  First pitch, high, 1-0.  Second pitch, fouled back, 1-1.  Third pitch, fouled to the catcher on the fly.  Two outs, runner on third.

Tulowitzki is 2-for-2 with a homer.  First pitch, fouled back, 0-1.  Second pitch, ball high and outside, 1-1.  Third pitch, lined just foul down the left field line, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, ball low, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, low and outside, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, strike out swinging.  Three outs, Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Top 6th

Millwood Pitching

Due Up: Sanchez, Buck, Wise

Sanchez is 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.  First pitch, popped to center, one out.

Buck is 1-for-2 with a two-run homer.  First pitch, strike called, 0-1.  Second pitch, ball low and outside, 1-1.  Third pitch, called strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, high and inside, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, bounced to short, out 6-3.  Two outs.

Wise is 1-for-2.  First pitch, high, 1-0.  Second pitch, showing bunt, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, outside, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, swinging strike, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, swinging strikeout.

Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Bottom 6th

Hensley Pitching

Due Up: Giambi, Alfonzo, Nelson

Giambi is 1-for-2 on the night.  First pitch, ball, 1-0.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, called strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, called strike three.  One out.

Alfonzo is 0-for-2 on the night.  First pitch, hit the batter—it looked like he was going to charge the mound for a second there...one out, runner on first.

Nelson is 2-for-2 on the night.  First pitch singled to left.  One out, runners on first and second.

Herrera is 0-for-2 tonight.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, check-swing strike, 0-2.  Third pitch, low in the dirt, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, grounded to second, runner out at first, runners advance.  Two outs, runners on second and third.

Seth Smith pinch-hitting for Millwood.  Mike Dunn relieves Clay Hensley.  Smith is 0-for-1 in his only plate appearance against Dunn.  First pitch, ball outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, ball outside, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, low and outside, 3-1.  Fifth pitch, fouled back, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, fouled back.  Seventh pitch, swinging strikeout.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Top 7th

Rex Brothers Pitching (no Marlin has a plate appearance against Brothers)

Due up: Amezaga, Dunn, Bonifacio

Amezaga is 0-for-2 on the night.  First pitch, in the dirt, 1-0.  Second pitch, low, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, grounder to second, out 4-3.  One out.

Ozzie Martinez pinch-hitting for Mike Dunn.  First pitch, ball high, 1-0.  Second pitch, grounder to third, out 6-3.  Two outs.

Bonifacio is 1-for-3 with a strikeout.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, grounder to short, out 6-3.  Three outs.  Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Bottom 7th

Edward Mujica Pitching

Due Up: Young, Fowler, Gonzalez

Young is 1-for-3 with a run on the night.  Young is hitless in two plate appearances against Mujica.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, fouled off his leg, 0-2.  Third pitch, high and outside.  Fourth pitch, ground to short, out 6-3.  One out.

Fowler has never faced Dunn; he is 1-for-3 with a triple in the fifth.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, grounded to second, out 4-3.  Two outs.

Gonzalez is 0-3 on the night; he is 2-for-5 with a triple against Mujica.  First pitch, ball low, 1-0.  Second pitch, low, 2-0.  Third pitch, swinging strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, flied out to left field.  Three outs.

Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Top 8th

Brothers Pitching

Due up: Petersen, Stanton, Dobbs

Petersen is 2-for-3 on the night with a run scored.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, check-swing foul, 0-2.  Third pitch, ball high, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, swinging strike three.  One out.

Stanton is 1-for-2 with a homer, a strikeout and a walk.  Matt Belisle relieves Rex Brothers.  Stanton is 1-for-3 with a homer off of Belisle.  First pitch, low, 1-0.  Second pitch, high, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, grounded up the middle, out 4-3.  Two outs.

Dobbs is 0-for-3 on the night; he is 2-for-11 with a double off of Belisle.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, fouled back.  Fourth pitch, grounder to the pitcher, just barely out at first.  Three outs, Marlins 4, Rockies 3.

Bottom 8th

Mujica Pitching

Due up:

Tulowitzki

Giambi

Alfonzo

Tulowitzki is 2-3 with a homer and a strikeout.  He is 1-8 with a homer against Mujica.  First pitch strike, 0-1.  Second pitch fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, high, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, fouled back.  Fifth pitch, low, 2-2.  Sixth pitch, low, 3-2.  Seventh pitch, fouled back.  Eighth pitch, ball four.  Man on first, no outs.

Giambi is 1-3 tonight.  He is 2-6 with a homer vs. Mujica.  First pitch ball low, 1-0.  Second pitch, ball outside, 2-0.  Third pitch, called strike, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, swinging strike, 2-2, Tulowitzki stole second.  Man on second, no out.  Fifth pitch, fouled back.  Sixth pitch, inside, 3-2.  Seventh pitch, popped up to short.  One out, man on second.

Alfonzo is 0-2 with a HBP on the night.  Burke Badenhop relieves Edward Mujica.  Alfonzo has never faced Badenhop.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, high foul ball behind right, 0-2.  Third pitch, fouled back.  Fourth pitch, lined out to center, two outs, man on second.

Nelson is 3-3 on the night with a double. He has never faced Badenhop.  First pitch, outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, outside, 2-0.  Third pitch, low, 3-0.  Fourth pitch, outside, walk.  Men on first and second, two outs.

Herrera is 0-3 on the night, he has faced Badenhop once with no luck.  Wigginton pinch hits for Herrera, Leo Nunez relieves Badenhop.  Wigginton is 0-2 against Nunez. First pitch, ball low, 1-0.  Second pitch, inside, 2-0.  Third pitch, fouled back, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, naaasty called strike, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, high, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, swinging strike.  Rockies leave two on base.  Marlins 4 Rockies 3.

Top 9th

Pitching: Rick Belisle

Due up:

Sanchez

Buck

Wise

Sanchez is 1-3 with a run.  Gaby is 2-2 with a walk against Belisle.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, inside, 1-1.  Third pitch, driven foul, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, fouled back.  Fifth pitch, fouled down right side.  Sixth pitch, inside, 2-2.  Seventh pitch, grounder to second, off the glove, safe at first.  None out, runner on first.

Buck is 1-3 with a homer.  Buck is 0-3 vs. Belisle.  First pitch, strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, inside, 1-1.  Third pitch, swinging strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, fouled back.  Fifth pitch, swinging strikeout.  Man on first, one out.

Wise is 1-3 with a strikeout on the night.  He has never faced Belisle.  First pitch called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, called strike, 0-2.  Third pitch, fouled back.  Fourth pitch, outside, 1-2.  Fifth pitch, driven foul.  Sixth pitch, hit up the middle.  Runners on first and second, one out.

Amezaga is 0-3.  He is 1-5 against Belisle.  First pitch, outside, 1-0.  Second pitch, hit to short, forced at second, 6-4.  Runners on first and third, two outs. 

Leo Nunez has never had a plate appearance.  First pitch strike.  Second pitch, low, 1-1.  Third pitch, grounder to second, out 4-3.  Marlins 4 Rockies 3.

Bottom 9th

Pitching: Leo Nunez

Mark Ellis is 0-1 lifetime against Nunez.  First pitch ball.  Second pitch foul, 1-1.  Third pitch, inside, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, fouled out to right field.  One out.

Eric Young is 1-4 with a run.  He has not faced Young.  First pitch, showed bunt, ball one.  Second pitch, called strike, 1-1.  Third pitch, called strike, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, grounded to short, out 6-3.  Two outs.

Fowler is 1-4 on the night with a strikeout.  He is 0-1 lifetime against Nunez.  First pitch, called strike, 0-1.  Second pitch, outside, 1-1.  Third pitch, low, 2-1.  Fourth pitch, called strike, 2-2.  Fifth pitch, outside, 3-2.  Sixth pitch, hit to center field.  Runner caught in a rundown, Throwing error leaves runner at second.  Two outs, runner on second.

Gonzalez is 0-4 and has not faced Nunez.  First pitch, double to right field, runner scores, Marlins 4 Rockies 4. Runner on second with two outs.

Tulowitzki is 2-3 with a homer and a strikeout on the night.  Tulowitzki is 0-1 lifetime against Nunez.  Nunez intentionally walks Tulowitzki.  Two outs, runners on first and second.

Giambi is 1-4 with a strikeout.  Randy Choate relieves Leo Nunez.  Giambi is 1-5 with a walk against Choate.  First pitch, check swing foul.  Second pitch, fouled back, 0-2.  Third pitch, outside, 1-2.  Fourth pitch, 3-run walk off homer.  Giambi's first game winning homer since 9/2010. This was the Rockies first walk off homer this season.

Final Score: Rockies 7 Marlins 4