Breakdown of Jeff Locke’s First Rehab Appearance with Jacksonville

Miami Marlins left-hander struck out seven Mississippi Braves

By Jacob Lovelace / Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Miami Marlins left-handed starting pitcher Jeff Locke made his first rehab appearance for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Friday night after making two starts in High-A Jupiter. Locke pitched five and a third innings allowing three runs (all earned), on seven hits, with one walk compared to seven strikeouts.

Locke had a no decision in Jacksonville’s 5–4 win, that ended with a walk-off RBI double by Alex Glenn.

The New Hampshire native signed with the Miami Marlins as a free agent in December after he spent six years in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is recovering from left bicep tendinitis that first bothered him early during spring training. With High-A Jupiter Locke started two games recording no wins or losses while posting a 1.00 ERA in nine innings of work.

His third rehab appearance came Friday night in Jacksonville against the Mississippi Braves where he labored through the first inning, facing five batters and surrendering the first run of the game before settling in. Locke consistently sat between 88–92 with his two seam fastball and off-speed pitches showing plenty of movement. Locke made quick work in the second, third, and fourth innings facing only ten batter and throwing thirty-two pitches before giving a run in the fifth and sixth inning.

After the game Roger Hoover had the chance to speak with Jeff Locke who felt like he accomplished what he wanted to Friday night in his start with Jacksonville.

“We came in with the objective of trying to get at least six ups, make some good pitches, move the ball around a little bit, have the defense work behind me, we did a pretty good job of that. But really just wanted to feel good. You want to feel like you’re progressing in the right direction. Tonight was definitely a move in the right direction,” Locke said.

One thing that was apparent was Locke’s command of the strike zone. Locke said that filling up the strike zone has been a focus of his in all his rehab appearances. “That’s a big goal. If a guy is going to lead off an inning with a hit, so be it. But a lead-off walk, I don’t think so. It’s tough to win many ball games like that.”

Marco LaNave also had a chance to catch up with Jumbo Shrimp manager Randy Ready to discuss Locke’s performance.

Here’s an inning-by-inning look at Jeff Locke’s performance against the Mississippi Braves.

First Inning: Five batters, 25 Pitches, 19 strikes, 1 run, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts.

Locke started his rehab appearance with the Jumbo Shrimp attacking the strike zone with fastballs to lead-off batter Luis Valenzuela. He threw three pitches to Valenzuela, all for strikes before Valenzuela grounded out to shortstop.

The next batter Ronald Acuna then singled on a 1–2 changeup. Locke would strike out the next batter Travis Demeritte looking on fastball as Acuna stole second base on strike three. Then Joey Meneses singled to right field to score Acuna. Locke got out of the first inning by striking out Keith Curcio looking.

Second Inning. Three batters, 9 pitches, 7 strikes, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 strikeouts.

It was a much more efficient second inning for the southpaw. In the top of the second inning Locke continued to pound the strike zone with his fastballs.

Kade Scivicque lead off the second inning for the M-Braves and grounded Locke’s 94 mph fastball to second base for a quick first out of the inning. Then Dylan Moore worked a 2–2 count before Locke struck him out looking. The next batter, Connor Lien, would be Locke’s fourth strikeout victim.

Third Inning: Three batters, 8 pitches, 6 strikes, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 strikeouts.

Mississippi pitcher Kolby Allard lead-off the third inning with a 1–2 fly ball that was caught in shallow center field by shortstop Junior Arrojo. After a first pitch strike to the next batter Luis Valenzuela, Locke got Valenzuela to fly to shallow center, caught again by Arrojo. Again, it took Locke just two pitches to retire the next batter Acuna, getting him to ground out to third.

Fourth Inning: Four batters, 15 pitches, 12 strikes, 0 runs, 1 hits, 1 strikeout.

The Marlins right hander entered the fourth inning in a groove only throwing 42 pitches in the first three innings. He the fourth inning right where he left off, recording his fifth strikeout of the game when he got Travis Demeritte to chase a 1–2 change-up in the dirt.

Joey Meneses followed with his second hit of the day, this time a double to left center field. Meneses was the first base runner allowed by Locke since the first inning. He would advance to third base when Keith Curcio grounded out to second base. Locke would then strand Meneses at third base by getting Kade Scivicque to ground out to third base.

Fifth Inning: Five batters, 16 pitches, 13 strikes, 1 run, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts.

In the fifth inning Locke faced Dylan Moore who worked a 3–2 count before hitting a sharp ground ball down the third baseline into left field for a lead-off double.

Locke would then strike out Connor Lien on a 1–2 changeup, and Kolby Allard on an 0–2 fastball.

On the next pitch Luis Valenzuela singled to centerfield to score Moore, tying the game 2–2. Locke would then receive some help from his defense when Ronald Acuna sent a first pitch fastball on a sharp bounce to third baseman Brian Anderson, who fired across the diamond to end the inning.

Sixth Inning: Three batters, 14 pitches, 7 strikes, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 strikeouts.

Entering the sixth inning with 73 pitches, Locke struggled to find the strike zone. He tossed three consecutive balls to Travis Demeritte. Demeritte would later send a line drive into centerfield that was misplayed by Yefri Perez before rolling all the way to the wall. Demeritte would score on what was ruled an inside the park homerun.

Then Locke surrendered a hit to Joey Meneses for the third time today, this time a single up the middle. Manager Randy Ready came to the mound and met with Locke and the infield before leaving Locke on the mound for one more batter. Keith Curcio laid down a sacrifice bunt before Manager Randy Ready signaled to the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen signaling the end to Locke’s rehab appearance in Jacksonville.

The Marlins southpaw tossed 87 pitches and 64 strikes. He said that he plans to make one more rehab appearance in Jacksonville on Wednesday when the Jumbo Shrimp host the Jackson Generals at 7:05 p.m.