Jose Fernandez allows seven hits, three runs in 6 innings vs. Giants

MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez's hitting was even better than his pitching.

Fernandez, making his return to the Miami Marlins' rotation after a nearly 14-month recovery process from Tommy John elbow surgery, slugged a solo home run, sparking a four-run Miami rally in the fifth inning.

The hard-throwing right-hander left the game after six innings and with a 5-3 lead over the San Francisco Giants. The Marlins held on for a 5-4 victory, with Fernandez picking up the win.

Fernandez, who hadn't pitched in the major leagues since May 9, 2014, allowed seven hits and no walks, striking out six and reaching 99 mph on the radar gun.

Fernandez said he was "a little emotional" before walking to the mound in the first inning.

"I was thinking: 'It's actually now, it's right here,'" he said. "This was what I had been thinking about for 14 months. I couldn't stop thinking that life had given me another chance to be on the mound."

Fernandez made the most of that chance.

He gave up a single and a double to the first two batters he faced, setting up a two-run Giants first inning. But then he settled down, retiring the side in order in the second.

"That first inning got a little frustrating," Fernandez said. "But we got the win, and I'm healthy -- that's all I can ask for."

In fact, after the rocky first inning, the only damage he allowed was a fifth-inning solo home run by Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco, who pulled a 94 mph fastball to the upper deck in right field.

Marlins manager Dan Jennings, perhaps hoping for another Fernandez homer, let him bat after retiring the side in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fernandez took a ball and then swung and missed at three straight pitches, ending his day.

"Jose, he thinks he's a hitter first," Jennings said. "He got a pitch to hit and showed his athletic ability. He's a baseball player. He loves the game, and the passion he brings is huge."

In total, Fernandez threw 89 pitches (68 for strikes), mixing his fastball and off-speed stuff effectively.

He went 1-for-3 at the plate.

"I was kind of joking around today that I was going to try to hit it out," Fernandez said. "That's what I try to do. I try to hit it out at (batting practice) every day. I think I got lucky.

"It was really exciting to put the team on the board for one more run."

Fernandez outpitched Matt Cain (0-1), who was also making his 2015 debut. Cain, sidelined last July by an elbow injury that required surgery, allowed five runs in five innings.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.