The Tampa Bay Rays knew they would need some very good pitching Thursday to beat Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins.
They didn't get it in a 9-1 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Miami had 15 hits, including home runs by Adeiny Hechavarria and Chris Johnson, marking the fourth time in five games Rays pitchers have allowed at least 13 hits.
"It was just frustrating because I felt like I had pretty good command," said Drew Smyly (2-6). "Just a couple of bad pitches, a couple curveballs just stayed up. It was just a frustrating outing for me because I thought I could perform better than I did."
Fernandez (7-2) struck out 12 in seven innings and won his sixth straight start
"It has a really special place in my heart. Pitching here is really special," said the 23-year-old right-hander. "I tried not to throw 155 miles an hour every pitch."
Fernandez struck out every hitter in the Rays lineup at least once and finished the game with 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings, highest among major league starters.
"We just got outplayed today. We got outpitched, got outhit. They defended better than us. Turn the page and look forward to tomorrow," said Rays manager Kevin Cash after Tampa Bay's fifth loss in a six-game stretch.
"We came in with a lot of hype about our pitching staff," Cash said. "Guys take a lot of pride in what they do. They're going to figure it out, and when they do we're going to get hot. We need them to get going and they're fully aware of that."
Hechavarria's third home run drove in the final two runs of a three-run second inning off Smyly. Johnson made it 5-0 with his second homer an inning later.
Johnson drove in another run with a single in the eighth, one of five straight hits off reliever Ryan Garton in his major league debut.
Marcel Osuna had two hits for Miami, reaching base in his 33rd straight game, one short of the franchise record.
Smyly (2-6) gave up five runs and six hits while striking out four in six innings.
Brandon Guyer homered off Fernandez in the third, his sixth home run and the major league-leading 67th homer for the Rays.
ANGRY WORDS, ANGRY LOOKS
Fernandez downplayed an ugly verbal exchange after getting out of a bases-loaded jam on Curt Casali's two-out popup. Rays shortstop Brad Miller shouted something from the dugout and when Fernandez glared back at him, Casali thought the pitcher was staring him down. "In that situation, you got me out. Get on with it and go to the next inning," Casali said. "I wasn't happy." Said Fernandez: "I heard something from the dugout, didn't pay much attention to it and just tried to do my job."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Bryan Morris (back) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and RHP Nick Wittgren was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. "Obviously it's serious anytime you start messing with the back," manager Don Mattingly said. "It doesn't feel like a 15-day thing. He's kind of mulling his options." ... OF Giancarlo Stanton (sore right side) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ... OF Christian Yelich (back spasms) could return this weekend.
Rays: 2B Logan Forsythe (left shoulder) has resumed taking ground balls. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 14.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (3-3) will pitch the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta on Friday night.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-5) will face the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.
