DENVER _ It didn't matter much in the big picture of the Miami Marlins' 6-0 loss Tuesday to the Colorado Rockies _ then again, the game itself didn't matter much in the big picture of the Marlins as a franchise _ but Dee Gordon was all over the place in the best way again.
The Marlins' second baseman made at least two noteworthy plays, both taking away hits from DJ LeMahieu, the Rockies' second baseman and one of Gordon's primary competitors for the Gold Glove award at their position.
At a time of year when padding individual stats is among the few motivators for the Marlins, Gordon is doing just that _ in the field. With days to go and the honor already voted on, Gordon has forged a legitimate case for what would be his second Gold Glove.
In the fourth with the bases loaded, Gordon ranged to his left and dove to stop LeMahieu's 101.1-mph grounder. He threw to first for the inning-ending out, keeping at least one run and perhaps two runs from scoring.
In the sixth, the Rockies had a runner on first and one out when LeMahieu nailed one 106.3 mph off the bat, but again on the ground. Gordon picked it for a smooth double play.
Those sorts of plays are not a mirage for Gordon, who won a Gold Glove in 2015. He is atop the leaderboards for all sorts of modern defensive metrics, according to FanGraphs, including several on which LeMahieu is No. 2.
Gordon has the edge in Defensive Runs Above Average (7.8 to 6.5), Ultimate Zone Rating (5.7 to 4.3), Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 Games (7.0 to 3.9). He also holds a significant edge in Range Runs over the sixth-place LeMahieu (among qualified fielders), 4.8 to -1.9.
LeMahieu betters Gordon in Defensive Runs Saved, seven to three.
And, lest you write off those statistics as nonsense, make note: Defensive metrics are a factor in this competition.
Gold Glove winners are determined by a vote by managers and coaches, plus the SABR Defensive Index, which combines measures from five different defensive data sources and includes factors that rate the defenders' arm strength, accuracy and range.
Elsewhere for the Marlins Tuesday, little good happened.
Rockies righty Tyler Anderson dominated for seven innings, facing the minimum number of batters through the first five thanks to two double plays.
His counterpart, Jose Urena, allowed Colorado six runs on nine hits in five innings. Urena gave up a three-run homer to Trevor Story in the first and a two-run shot to Nolan Arenado in the fifth.
Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4, doubling in the ninth. After a sixth-inning tapper back to the pitcher with two outs and two runners on, Stanton slammed his bat to the ground and his batting glove into his helmet on his way to first base.
