Roddery Muñoz had a strong game, pitching for six innings to secure his first major league victory as the Miami Marlins defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Wednesday night.
In just his second major league start, the 24-year-old Muñoz (1-0) allowed only one run and three hits while striking out seven batters and walking two. Although he faced some challenges early on with two base runners in the first inning, Muñoz then retired 11 consecutive batters until Elehuris Montero’s single in the fifth inning.
Expressing his emotions in Spanish, Muñoz said, “This is something I have always dreamed of, and thank God, I am achieving it. It is very emotional not only for me but also for my family.”
Muñoz had a promising debut, allowing two runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs on April 20. However, he was sent down to Triple-A after the game. He was later called back up by the Marlins on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Rivera contributed with two singles, a walk, and getting hit by a pitch, while Luis Arraez and Bryan De La Cruz each drove in a run for the Marlins, who secured their first series win of the season.
Dane Myers also made an impact by driving in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, tallying five RBIs over the last two games.
“We have a good group of guys, good ball players,” Rivera said. “Every time we step onto the field, we aim to win. Of course, winning doesn’t always happen, but we always have that winning mindset.”
The Rockies are the first team since 1900 to have been behind at some point in each of their first 30 games. They lost their fourth game in a row after their dramatic comeback win against San Diego on April 25, where they scored six runs in the eighth inning to win 10-9.
“We need to keep fighting,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “I believe our young players are learning. They’re realizing how tough it is to face big league pitching.”
Arraez drove in a run with a two-out single against Rockies pitcher Dakota Hudson, and then scored on De La Cruz’s double, putting Miami in the lead 2-0 in the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, Elias Díaz’s groundout brought the Rockies to a score of 2-1 after Muñoz walked Brenton Doyle and allowed Ryan McMahon’s double.
