Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco struck out 11 in eight-plus innings of a 2-1 win Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Nolasco was going for the complete-game shutout, but he was pulled in the ninth after allowing a leadoff double to Didi Gregorius, who would scored two batters later.
Nolasco (3-5), whose career-high for strikeouts in a game is 16, allowed a run on five hits and a walk. He threw 74 of 110 pitches for strikes. The right-hander had lost three straight starts coming entering Sunday.
"Good command of all the pitches," Nolasco said, per the Sun-Sentinel. "The curveball was really good today, so that helped a lot. I was able to spin it pretty much whenever I wanted to and (Jeff) Mathis did a good job of realizing that and we used it very well."
Nolasco will next start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. Nolasco is 7-10 with a 5.35 ERA in 19 career interleague starts.