Matt Lindstrom notched his first save, but it was reminiscent of wild finishes from last year's closer, Kevin Gregg.
Entering the ninth inning Wednesday with a three-run lead, Lindstrom needed 32 pitches to get three outs. He gave up a run, walking a runner with the bases loaded. The Marlins aren't worried. They attribute the rocky finish to rust. It was Lindstrom's first competitive outing since March 8 -- exactly one month -- when he left a World Baseball Classic game with a right rotator cuff strain.
His velocity was just fine. The team says his command will improve with each outing.
"That was a long ninth inning. I think my heart was probably beating as hard as (Lindstrom's) was," second baseman Dan Uggla said.
Lindstrom should be available Friday because the Marlins were off Thursday. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has said he won't use Lindstrom on back-to-back days for at least two weeks.
