Muñoz (7 K's) makes Major impression in strong debut

CHICAGO -- Roddery Muñoz felt uneasy when he was called into the manager’s office at Triple-A Jacksonville earlier this week. The 24-year-old right-hander had gotten off to a tough start with the Jumbo Shrimp and wasn’t sure what was coming next.

Muñoz didn’t receive bad news. Manager Daren Brown informed him that the Marlins were calling him up to the Major Leagues.

“I was nervous when I went in there,” Muñoz said via interpreter Will Nadal. “But when I received the news, I was just relieved. I was very happy, and I was just happy to go out there. I knew I was going to give it my all.”

Muñoz, who was called up as the 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader against the Cubs, started the nightcap at Wrigley Field. In the Marlins’ 5-3 loss, he delivered an impressive performance, under a bevy of unique circumstances. Miami split the twin bill after a 3-2 win on Bryan De La Cruz's clutch homer in Game 1.

On a cold night (42 degrees at first pitch) at a historic ballpark, facing an impressive lineup, the 24-year-old allowed two runs on two hits -- a pair of solo home runs -- and one walk to go with seven strikeouts in five-plus innings.

Only José Fernández (April 7, 2013) and Dillon Peters (Sept. 1, 2017), each with eight, struck out more batters in their Major League debuts in Marlins history.

“Seriously, I was a little bit nervous out there,” Muñoz said. “I'm not gonna lie. But in my mind I was focused, and I knew that I just had to be confident out there. I think I did that.”

Muñoz has made three appearances with Jacksonville this season, allowing 14 runs (13 earned) and 10 hits in 10 2/3 innings, with 12 walks compared to seven strikeouts. With that in mind, manager Skip Schumaker offered a simple message when asked what he hoped to see in the nightcap against the Cubs.

“Strikes,” Schumaker said between games of the doubleheader. “I just don't want him to hurt himself. Let the defense play. It's cold out there. … I need them to be active. If they get 10 hits, they get 10 hits. But I want him to challenge them as much as he can.”

Muñoz got Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner to ground out on a 1-2 sinker, finishing off a six-pitch battle, to lead off the first. Cody Bellinger followed by hitting a changeup high and outside 378 feet over the right-field wall for a solo home run.

It could have been easy for Muñoz to become rattled then, or when Christopher Morel followed Bellinger by walking in a six-pitch plate appearance.

Instead, Muñoz stayed composed and struck out Michael Busch and Garrett Cooper to end the inning.

“That was just the first inning,” Muñoz said. “Really, I just tried to keep my composure, keep focus out there. It's just the beginning of the game. I was able to settle down.”

Muñoz retired 14 Cubs hitters in order after Morel’s walk, seven on strikeouts. Four of those came on his slider, and one each on his four-seamer, sinker and changeup.

“He did a nice job,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “His slider was really effective tonight. It was just different kinds of shapes every single time he threw it. He threw a bunch of different shapes, different speed sliders, and that was a really good pitch for him tonight.

“So you know credit to him. He pitched well.”

Muñoz mixed his slider (30 pitches), four-seamer (20) sinker (19) and changeup (eight) well. He located where he wanted to, he said, both inside and outside the strike zone.

His four-seamer averaged 95.3 mph and sinker 94.4 mph in the 77-pitch outing. To Counsell’s point, Muñoz’s slider averaged 87.5 mph, but with a range of 81-91 mph.

Muñoz’s night ended after Alexander Canario homered to lead off the sixth inning.

“He was throwing strikes,” Schumaker said. “The velocity was up. He was working on a new breaking ball when he got sent out from Spring Training, and it was real. I mean, it was a really good pitch. Other than the Bellinger homer and then obviously a homer late, I mean, he pitched as good as anybody this year. Really impressive start.”

Helping Muñoz feel comfortable out there was a familiar face behind the plate. Jhonny Pareda, who has caught Muñoz at Triple-A, started Game 2 behind the plate.

The outing could mean a lot for Muñoz going forward.

“I just think this helps me have that confidence out there,” he said, “knowing that I can locate my pitches and have that command. I think I can use that moving forward.”