Miami's Gino DiMare praises work of starter Alejandro Rosario in elimination game vs. Louisiana

Miami right-hander Alejandro Rosario has had an up-and-down junior season as a starting pitcher for the Hurricanes. But Rosario came to play during Sunday’s elimination game at the Coral Gables Regional versus Louisiana.

While the Ragin’ Cajuns had to work its bullpen throughout the game, Rosario gave Miami a huge boost with his performance in the contest.

Heading into the top of the seventh with a 5-4 lead, Miami had only utilized Rosario on the mount. He worked six innings with seven hits, four runs, three earned runs and two walks with six strikeouts.

He threw 114 pitches for 76 strikes before being replaced out of the bullpen.

Hurricanes head coach Gino DiMare hopped on with the ESPN2 broadcasters during the fourth inning. The broadcasters asked what was working with Rosario on the mound.

“He’s throwing strikes,” DiMare said in the fourth inning. “He was up a little bit early in the game, but he’s getting some more ground balls. Of course, this team does a lot of action things. They had a first pitch hit and run there and got something going. I think we had him out at the plate if we would have caught the ball there. But they’re an aggressive team so we got to keep the leadoff guy out. That’s very important with teams like this.”

Rosario entered the game with a 7.45 ERA in 16 appearances.

On the mound for Louisiana when DiMare talked to the broadcast crew was David Christie. Christie ended up throwing 2.1 innings for the Ragin’ Cajuns, allowing just two runs — only one of them earned — in his appearance.

He had replaced starting pitcher Blake Marshall, who had allowed three runs in 1.2 innings. It was Marshall’s first start of the season.

“He’s throwing a lot of junk,” DiMare said. “Two 3-2 counts there last two hitters and we’re chasing ball fours. It should be first and second with one out. Got to do a better job of discipline, laying off that junk but he is throwing a lot of junk.”