Noesi up and down in first MLB game in 4 years

NEW YORK -- The last time Hector Noesí pitched in a Major League game prior to Tuesday was May 25, 2015, against the Blue Jays. Noesi was a member of the White Sox at that time.

Noesi spent a lot of time in South Korea, playing for the Kia Tigers from 2016-18. He was 46-20 with a 3.79 ERA with the Tigers during that period.

“I learned a lot overseas. I think I’m better making pitches down [in the zone],” Noesi said after the Marlins' 5-0 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. “Before, I missed everything [in the middle of the plate]. Now I can miss out of the zone.”

Now, Noesi is back in the United States as a member of the Marlins. On Tuesday, Noesi received his first big league start of the season, pitching five innings to take the loss.

• Box score

After allowing an RBI double to Todd Frazier, Noesi settled down for a spell and retired the side in order in the second inning. But then Noesi was hurt by the long ball. He allowed a three-run homer to Wilson Ramos in the third inning. It didn’t help that he walked Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis before Ramos came to the plate.

“That’s not me,” Noesi said about the walks. “Maybe it’s because I didn’t pitch in seven days. I don’t know.”

Two innings later, Noesi put the Marlins down by five runs after allowing a solo homer to Pete Alonso.

“He was OK,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about Noesi. “He was not as sharp as we would like, but first time out, we’ll see what it will look like going forward.”

After he was taken out of the game, Noesi said he felt great as well as emotional.

“There are not many players that go overseas and then come back to the big leagues,” Noesi said. “I think I did a great job today. I made some pitches that were good. I only missed one pitch and paid for it. It was the slider [to Ramos]. It went to the middle of the plate. I was hoping it would break and it didn’t break.”