MIAMI -- Before Tuesday night, the Marlins were the only MLB team without a pitcher to complete seven innings in a start this season.
Edward Cabrera ended that dubious distinction with an electric outing to help the hottest team in the Majors extend their winning streak to eight games -- the franchise’s longest since 2008, when it won a record nine in a row.
The Marlins beat the Twins, 2-0, at loanDepot park, starting a six-game homestand by picking up where they left off on the franchise’s first perfect six-game road trip.
Cabrera allowed only two hits over seven scoreless innings, outdueling Twins starter Joe Ryan, Kyle Stowers homered in the second inning and Nick Fortes struck an RBI single in the eighth after the Twins intentionally walked Otto Lopez to pitch to him. Ronny Henriquez struck out two in a scoreless ninth to earn the save against his former team.
It was just what Marlins’ manager Clayton McCullough envisioned when he said before the game that he expected no letdown and predicted, “I think our guys will come out ready to play.”
The story Tuesday night was Cabrera, who entered with a 2.36 ERA over his past nine starts, allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight of them. In his last start Wednesday against the Giants, the right-hander matched his fastest pitch as a big leaguer (99.7 mph) to strike out Casey Schmitt in the second inning. On Tuesday, he became the first Marlins starter to pitch more than 6 1/3 innings in a start this season. And how was his stuff this go-around?
“It was unbelievable,” Fortes said. “Everybody in this clubhouse and around the league knows he has that in him, so for him to be putting such a run together as he has, is cool to see. It’s a testament to his hard work and all the adjustments he’s made to get back in the zone and throw more competitive pitches. When he does that, you can see the results.”
“That was a really front-line outstanding effort by Cabby today,” McCullough said. “He hit another gear in the third inning on. Really, the only bit of trouble he got into was there in the seventh and he buckled down and made pitches. Seven shutout [innings], that’s a fantastic outing.”
After striking out Trevor Larnach to start the seventh, Cabrera gave up an infield single to Willi Castro. Cabrera struck out Carlos Correa, but walked Matt Wallner after Castro stole second, bringing up Brooks Lee with runners on first and second and two outs. Anthony Bender began warming up in the bullpen.
McCullough, who has been quick to turn to the ‘pen, stuck with Cabrera.
“Cabby has continued to display throughout, really the majority of this season, the consistent strike throwing -- that was kind of the last piece for him,” McCullough said. “He was in such a good groove and at that point we felt like we looked great and he was our best option to get out of that jam and to let him have a chance to work through it. He came through and made some big pitches.”
Cabrera struck out Lee swinging with a 94 mph changeup and pumped his fists emphatically as he came off the mound.
“It means a lot,” Cabrera said via team interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “Those emotions come out naturally, mostly when you have big moments like that. That was very exciting.”
“I know he wanted it, for sure,” Fortes said. “He’s grinded and had that good outing, that 6 1/3 not too long ago, so for him to get through seven full innings, I know he wanted that bad. And you could see it. He was pretty fired up. It was awesome.”
Said McCullough: “It was a big moment for him. And a big moment for us.”
This version of Cabrera, the one he has shown for two full months now, has tantalized the Marlins into keeping him despite the injuries and inconsistencies. And it has opposing clubs perhaps looking to acquire him ahead of the Trade Deadline.
On Sunday in Phoenix, Marlins assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman said Cabrera has shown the most growth since Opening Day of any pitcher on the team’s staff.
“Obviously, I wasn't here last year, but there's a certain look in his eyes, and you really saw it from Game 1, and it just … no matter if he has a good or bad outing, he kind of keeps going on this track,” Leichman said.
Cabrera said Tuesday he feels the area he’s made the most improvement since the start of the season is with his control. He’s also increased the usage of his curveball dramatically in recent starts.
“100 percent confident [in it],” Cabrera said. “I feel I can throw it in any count, any moment of the at-bat.”