Lopez completes dominant Spring Training

JUPITER, Fla. -- Another stellar performance from a starter, and another Marlins win.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was Pablo Lopez’s turn to step up. The right-hander threw six shutout innings with five strikeouts in Miami’s 6-0 victory over the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Winners of 11 straight Grapefruit League games, the Marlins matched their franchise-high Spring Training streak. The only other time they strung together this many consecutive preseason wins was Feb. 28-March 8, 1997.

Spring Training records don’t necessarily indicate what will happen in the regular season. But for an inexperienced team that is trying to build a winning culture, getting a taste of winning can be beneficial in player development.

“I know it’s Spring Training, but it’s big for us to continue to play to win baseball games,” Marlins bench coach Tim Wallach said. “We’re learning how to win. I think we’re doing a pretty good job at learning at it right now.”

Wallach managed the club in place of Don Mattingly, who missed the game for personal reasons.

The way the Marlins have been pitching, it hasn’t mattered who is guiding the club from the dugout.

Fighting for a rotation spot, Lopez scattered two hits and retired the last 11 batters he faced. In 20 Grapefruit League innings, the 23-year-old has a 0.90 after his 86-pitch afternoon.

“Consistency is key,” Lopez said. “Even the things you do off the field. When you get on the field, you try to build that routine. You try to build good habits that work for you.”

The Marlins have seven starting pitcher candidates for five spots. The way Lopez has thrown, it will be tough to keep him out. He’s lined up to pitch in the third game of the season.

Lopez took the mound in less than ideal conditions, as it started raining shortly after the first pitch.

Dexter Fowler led off the bottom of the first with a bloop single to right. Garrett Cooper, dealing with rain and wind in right field, went back on a ball that fell in front of him.

Lopez then clipped Paul Goldschmidt with a pitch, getting into early trouble with runners on first and second and no outs. But he induced a double-play grounder out of Paul DeJong and retired Tyler O’Neill on a ground ball to short.

“You always have to stay locked in,” Lopez said. “Change can happen. Rain can change everything in one minute. Before the game, warming up, you knew the forecast said it might rain. You have to stay locked in and control what you can control.”

Lopez retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced after issuing the leadoff hit to Fowler and hitting Goldschmidt with a pitch.

“I think the best thing about his outing today is early on, probably the first two or three innings, he was struggling command-wise a little bit,” Wallach said. “When he got to the fourth inning, it just got better and better. That’s something that is really impressive for a young guy like him.”

Beginning with his Major League debut last June 30 against the Mets, Lopez made 10 starts as a rookie, going 2-4 with a 4.14 ERA in 58 2/3 innings.

A right shoulder strain landed Lopez on the 60-day disabled list in September. The Marlins maintain the injury wasn’t serious, and the club said that shutting the right-hander down was more precautionary.

Lopez returned to Spring Training healthy and strong, having packed on about eight pounds of muscle since his rookie campaign. Throughout camp, the right-hander has maintained a steady routine.

“It brings a lot of confidence knowing you did your pregame routine, your postgame routine,” Lopez said. “It’s building up that confidence. That’s a good thing.”