Rogers the latest Marlin to struggle in 1st inning

NEW YORK -- The Marlins need more of their starters behind Sandy Alcantara and Jesús Luzardo to go deep into games and give the bullpen a break. Once again, though, that wasn’t the case during Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Mets at Citi Field.

For a second day in a row, the Marlins' starting pitcher was unable to work past the fifth inning. This time, left-hander Trevor Rogers lasted 4 2/3 innings and, like Edward Cabrera on Friday, had a tough time getting out of the first inning.

It didn’t help that Rogers also had problems throwing strikes. The southpaw hit Brandon Nimmo with a pitch to start the game and walked two other batters in the first, the second of which was a bases-loaded walk that brought home Nimmo to score the first run of the game.

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“I was probably a little antsy out there,” Rogers said about the first inning. “It really wasn’t going my way and I had to settle down and make a pitch.”

After getting out of the first having thrown 29 pitches, Rogers cruised through the fourth, retiring nine out of the 11 hitters he faced. In the fifth inning, Rogers was able to get two quick outs, but he then allowed a single to Francisco Lindor before Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall.

“I thought about going with a fastball up and in, but he was taking those all day,” Rogers said. “So I didn’t want to give in to him. He hit a good pitch and you just tip your cap.”

The bullpen finished out the rest of the game, allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings.

“We have to figure out that first inning. It has been a challenge for [Rogers],” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “But it feels like the second through the fifth, Rogers started commanding the zone better, trusting his stuff and his stuff plays when it’s in the zone. He proves it every time.”

With the short outings from Rogers and Cabrera, Miami’s bullpen has pitched a combined 8 2/3 innings the past two games. The Marlins are hoping that left-hander Braxton Garrett can give them some length on Sunday afternoon.

“Sandy and Luzardo saved us a couple of days ago and kind of reset [the bullpen],” Schumaker said. “The bullpen has done a really good job of keeping us in games. It really has. It’s tough to go back-to-back this early in the season, and you try to avoid that as much as you can. That’s the reality in the last couple of days.

“I’m confident our pitchers will get back on track and go deeper in games and help out our ‘pen. It’s early. You see a lot of teams going through this right now. I think we will reset soon.”

With the loss, the Marlins dropped their record to 3-6. Of course, it’s only nine game into the season, and six of those games have been against the Mets. Center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., who hit his second homer of the year to avoid the shutout, acknowledged the negative comments the team has received from fans. He said it’s too early to panic.

“I’m seeing progress from everybody,” Chisholm said. “Like I said, it’s early. I see the fans panicking. I know my teammates and they are very talented.

“Just trust us and we are going to make it out for you guys. Just trust me: We are going to work hard every day. We are going to bust [our butts] every day. Give us the benefit of the doubt. Just know we are going to do the best that we can.”