Andrew Cashner was acquired by the Marlins on July 29. Six starts and seven appearances later, he is still seeking his first win for them.
The right-hander issued a career-high six walks Friday night, allowing six runs in five innings as the Cleveland Indians beat Miami 6-2. The third-place Marlins remained three games behind St. Louis for the final NL playoff spot.
Cashner (4-11) threw 28 pitches before getting an out as the AL Central leaders scored three times in the first. The Indians tacked on a run in the second and two more in the fifth, sending the Marlins to their sixth loss in seven games.
Ks are always on the table for Cookie. pic.twitter.com/4YXKyMr8ex
— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2016
"I was battling my fastball tonight and just never really got into a groove," said Cashner, who is 0-4 with a 5.57 ERA since joining Miami in a seven-player trade with San Diego. "It was definitely a grind out there."
J.T. Realmuto went 3 for 4, including a two-run homer in the eighth, and Destin Hood singled and doubled in his major league debut for the Marlins. Martin Prado added a pair of hits.
"To have my family here with me to share this experience really meant a lot," said the 26-year-old Hood, released by the Indians last July. "I was actually really nervous, being in a much larger stadium, but it was a special night."
Cleveland took advantage of Cashner's inability to find the strike zone as he walked three in the first, including Mike Napoli with the bases loaded.
One of the free passes occurred when Jason Kipnis was ruled to have checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch, which Miami manager Don Mattingly disagreed with from the dugout. Emotions remained high as first base coach Perry Hill was ejected in the ninth.
"God forbid that we complain about a call," a still-upset Mattingly said.
Cashner, scratched from his previous turn because of a blister on his pitching hand, has made nine appearances since his last win on July 15. He fell to 0-6 with a 6.89 ERA on the road this year.
"After the first, I thought Cash was really good," Mattingly said. "It's just tough because he threw 35 pitches to get out of that inning, which cost him the chance to go deeper in the game."
Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (10-7) struck out 11 and scattered six hits over 7 1/3 shutout innings. Jeff Manship allowed Realmuto's eighth homer of the season, which also scored Prado, the first Marlins runner to advance past second.
Christian Yelich went 0 for 4, snapping his career-long streak of three straight games with a homer.
RARE APPEARANCE
The Marlins are playing their third regular-season series at Progressive Field, previously visiting in 2004 and 2012. They also defeated the Indians in the 1997 World Series. "This is a beautiful ballpark," Mattingly said. "I've always loved the view, with the city in the background. It reminds me of Baltimore and Pittsburgh in that way."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: CF Marcell Ozuna (sprained left wrist) sat out his second straight game after getting hurt Wednesday while making a diving catch against the Mets.
Indians: C Yan Gomes (separated right shoulder) began a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Akron. He has been on the disabled list since July 18.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (13-7) has the second-most strikeouts in the majors with 219. He ranks fifth with a 2.79 ERA.
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (9-6), who has not pitched against Miami, is 6-2 with a 2.50 ERA in 13 career interleague starts.
