Castro requests trade from Marlins

Starlin Castro, acquired in the December deal that sent slugger Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees, has requested a trade from Miami, sources told MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.

Castro "does not want to be a part of another rebuilding process" as he was when he was with the Cubs from 2010-15.

The Marlins are in the midst of a full rebuild, and it's been expected that Miami would try to flip Castro to another team. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported last week that the Marlins might ultimately keep the 27-year-old infielder.

Castro is to make nearly $11 million in 2018 and almost $12 million in 2019. His contract comes with a $16 million club option for 2020.

Castro, a four-time All-Star, batted .283/.317/.442 with 37 home runs and 133 RBIs in 263 games over two seasons with the Yankees after hitting .281/.321/.404 with 62 homers and 363 RBIs across six seasons with the Cubs.

MLB Winter Meetings: Cardinals acquire Marcell Osuna from Marlins

The St. Louis Cardinals reportedly completed a trade for Miami's Marcell Ozuna. Craig Mish of SiriusXM and Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com have each reported that the deal is done, pending a physical. 

Ozuna, 27, is coming off an excellent 2017 in which he slashed .312/.376/.548 (145 OPS+) with 37 home runs in 159 games.

The Marlins will acquire prospect pitcher Sandy Alcantara, made eight relief appearances for the Cardinals last season.

Stanton, Marlins knock off Diamondbacks

(TSX / STATS) -- PHOENIX -- Giancarlo Stanton hit his 57th home run to lead the Miami Marlins to a 12-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

The Marlins slugger went 3-for-6 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Stanton drove in four runs and became Miami's single-season RBI leader with 124, breaking the previous mark of 120 set by Preston Wilson in 2000.

Justin Bour homered for the fourth consecutive game as his two-run, opposite-field shot in the eighth gave Miami an 11-6 lead. Bour's shot bounced off the left-field foul pole for his 25th of the season.

Miami (73-81) took the lead for good with a five-run third inning and withstood home runs from Arizona's J.D. Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt. Martinez now has 43 homers and Goldschmidt connected for the 36th time this season.

The loss kept Arizona (89-66) within one game of clinching a wild card berth.

Brian Ellington (1-1) pitched two innings of relief for the win. Ellington struck out three around Martinez's solo home run.

Neither starter reached the fifth inning. Arizona's Taijuan Walker (9-9) allowed six runs and six hits, walked three and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings.

Despite enjoying four- and three-run leads, Miami's Dillon Peters was lifted for a pinch hitter after four innings. Peters surrendered five runs and six hits, walked three and struck out one.

Martinez's solo homer off Ellington in the fifth pulled Arizona within 7-6. Stanton leaped and attempted to catch Martinez's opposite-field shot before it landed over the wall in right-center field.

Stanton's solo homer and Justin Bour's RBI single in the fourth gave Miami a 7-4 lead.

Bour's single to shallow center scored Christian Yelich from second. Yelich originally was called out on second baseman Brandon Drury's throw to catcher Chris Ianetta. But Miami challenged the play and a video review overturned the call.

The Marlins erased a 1-0 deficit with a five-run third, keyed by Stanton's two-run double and a fielding error by Walker off Dee Gordon's short dribbler that scored Miguel Rojas from third. Bour drove in a run with a single and Brian Anderson's sacrifice fly to deep center scored Miami's fifth run of the inning.

Goldschmidt's three-run homer off Peters in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit to 5-4.

Drury's home run to lead off the second gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead. Drury drove Peters' pitch above the wall in right-center for his 13th home run.

NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon favored his right leg as he attempted to beat out a grounder in the fourth. Although Gordon limped on his way to the dugout, he remained in the game. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado, sidelined since mid-July because of a right knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery, is traveling with the team on its road trip to Arizona and Colorado. Prado took batting practice before Saturday's game and is targeting possible pinch-hit opportunities the final week of the season. ... Diamondbacks OF J.D. Martinez has 27 home runs since July 19, second behind Stanton. Martinez also drove in his 28th run of the month. ... Saturday's crowd of 39,259 at Chase Field pushed the Diamondbacks over two million in home attendance for the season. Arizona has never drawn less than two million at home in the club's 19-year history.

Braves pull out walk-off win over Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- Late-inning rallies no longer surprise Atlanta manager Brian Snitker, so it was hardly a shock when his team scored two runs in the ninth inning and produced its 17th win in the final at-bat.

"These guys battle, they fight, they grind," Snitker said after the Braves beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Thursday. "Things haven't gone the way we want them consistently lately, but a lot of good things are happening. I've seen it many times out of this group of guys."

Kurt Suzuki's two-out single in the ninth off closer Brad Ziegler (1-4) capped Atlanta's two-run rally at SunTrust Park. It was the Braves' seventh walk-off win of the season.

"What an at-bat (for Suzuki), and that's a tough pitcher to do that against," Atlanta right fielder Jace Peterson said.

The Braves began the comeback when pinch hitter Matt Adams doubled. Pinch runner Nick Markakis scored the tying run when Ozzie Albies slapped a one-out double to right field.

After Ziegler intentionally walked Freddie Freeman and retired Lane Adams on a fielder's choice, Suzuki singled just inside the third base bag to score Freeman.

"It's just good to see guys keep fighting, keep battling," Snitker said.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Marlins, who have dropped 10 of 11.

"We haven't been playing that great the last few days, and to have a chance and not get the win makes it that much tougher," Ziegler said. "We battled back after we were down pretty late in the game. The offense gave us a chance to win, and it's frustrating to not be able to come through."

The winning pitcher was Rex Brothers (3-3), who struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning.

The Marlins rallied against reliever Jose Ramirez in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. Brian Anderson led off by reaching on an error, a ground ball that rolled through the legs of rookie second baseman Albies. Anderson scored when Ichiro Suzuki lobbed a two-out, pinch-hit single softly into left field.

It was the 26th pinch hit of the season for Suzuki, two short of the major league record set by John Vander Wal of the Colorado Rockies in 1995.

"That's the one chance that I get," Suzuki said. "The approach hasn't changed. I do the same things I have been doing."

The Marlins tied the game with a run in the seventh off reliever Sam Freeman, who allowed his first run since July 31, a span of 16 games. Freeman walked Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna greeted Ramirez with an RBI single.

Ozuna led the Marlins with two hits and two RBIs, and Anderson had two hits and a walk.

Atlanta got two hits each from Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, Peterson and Suzuki.

Miami starter Dan Straily allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out three.

Atlanta's Sean Newcomb pitched five innings and allowed three runs and seven hits and three walks. He struck out five.

The Marlins put three runs on the board in the first inning. Dee Gordon led off with a triple and scored on Yelich's single. Ozuna followed with a run-scoring triple and scored on Anderson's two-out single.

Atlanta cut the lead to 3-2 in the second inning when Rio Ruiz and Swanson singled, and both came around to score on Peterson's opposite-field single to left.

The Braves took the lead by scoring twice in the fifth inning to go ahead 4-3. Inciarte tripled and scored on Albies' sacrifice fly. Matt Kemp gave the Braves the lead with a solo homer -- his 18th of the season.

The loss further damaged the chances for Miami (67-73) to make a push for the wild card. With Washington's 4-3 win in Philadelphia on Thursday, Atlanta (62-77) was officially eliminated in the NL East.

"It's definitely not for lack of effort, that's for sure," Straily said. "I've been watching this team play every single night. It's not going our way now, and we've got to find a way to turn it around quick."

NOTES: Miami 2B Dee Gordon led off the game with a triple to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. It ended Miami's streak of 22 innings without an extra-base hit. ... Miami started Brian Anderson at third base, giving Derek Dietrich the night off. Anderson singled in his first at-bat and recorded his first major league RBI. ... Atlanta RF Nick Markakis was not in the starting lineup, replaced by Jace Peterson. ... Atlanta 3B Rio Ruiz had hit safely in all six games he has played since being added to the roster on Sept. 1. ... Miami 1B Justin Bour, on the disabled list since July 25 with a right oblique strain, could be activated as soon as Friday.

Marlins bank on Straily to continue success vs. Braves

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Miami Marlins are hopeful that right-hander Dan Straily can continue his season-long streak of success against Atlanta and help the club keep its fleeting playoff hopes alive.

Miami will send Straily (9-8, 3.91 ERA) to the mound in the opener of a four-game series at SunTrust Park, where he'll be opposed by Atlanta rookie Sean Newcomb (2-8, 4.31) on Thursday.

The Marlins (67-72) are seven games out of the second wild card and have lost four straight games. The Braves (61-77) are long gone from the playoff picture and are a league-worst 16-32 since July 17.

But the Braves have won seven of the 11 meetings with the Marlins.

The Braves have won four of six meetings at SunTrust Park. This is Miami's final visit to Atlanta; the Braves will close the season with a four-game set at Marlins Park, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.

Straily is the right guy for the Marlins to have on the mound against the Braves. He has been outstanding in three starts against Atlanta this season, going 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA. Straily has struck out 20 batters in 17 innings, has walked only three and has allowed just one home run.

In his last start against Atlanta on Aug. 5 at SunTrust Park, Straily allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings and took the loss. He struck out seven and allowed one walk.

Straily has made four career starts against Atlanta, going 2-2 with a 4.12 ERA.

The only Atlanta player with a homer against Straily this season is Nick Markakis, who is 2-for-8 with three strikeouts. Freddie Freeman is 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

In Straily's last start on Sept. 2, he was touched for four runs in five innings by the Philadelphia Phillies but still came away with the win. He was helped by the Miami bats, which came up big in a 10-9 win.

"Thank God the bats showed up," Straily said afterward. "This game is all about picking each other up, and those guys really did a great job with the bats."

Newcomb is trying to finish his rookie season on a strong note. He was 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in six starts in August but allowed three or fewer runs in five of those starts. He lost to Chicago on Aug. 31 despite allowing only two earned runs in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Newcomb's only appearance against Miami came in his second career start on June 16. He gave up three runs in six innings that night and took the loss.

Control has been the issue with Newcomb. He walked three batters in his last start and has 47 walks in 79 1/3 innings. He walked a season-high seven against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 8 and has yet to have a start without yielding a walk.

Newcomb will need to pitch carefully to Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who has a league-leading 53 homers and has connected five times this season against the Braves. Stanton was 1-for-3 with a strikeout against Newcomb in their only previous encounter this season. Justin Bour had a homer against Newcome in that game.

Nationals complete sweep of Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Ryan Zimmerman just kept running.

The Washington Nationals first baseman scored from first on a first-inning Howie Kendrick double. And after crossing home plate, Zimmerman just kept sprinting, into the dugout tunnel at Marlins Park.

That's fitting for the Nationals, who haven't stopped running past the competition all season.

On Wednesday night, Zimmerman also slugged his 31st homer and Gio Gonzalez won his 14th game as Washington swept the Miami Marlins with a 8-1 win.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker saw Zimmerman sprint into the dugout and said he was just glad he didn't get hurt. And Zimmerman acknowledged it wasn't his brightest idea ever.

"I could've stopped," Zimmerman said. "I kept going ... might as well do something stupid."

If so, that was the only dumb thing Zimmerman did on a night in which he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

The first-place Nationals (85-54) increased their division lead over the second-place Marlins (67-72) to 18 games. The Nationals have won eight straight games in their series against Miami.

Against all competition, Miami has lost four games in a row and nine of its past 10. And the only run Miami scored on Wednesday came on an RBI groundout by Miguel Rojas in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's been awhile now," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of his team's slump. "It's been like 10 days of this. I wish I had an answer for it, but I honestly don't."

Gonzalez (14-6, 2.50 ERA) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks while pitching out of several jams. Gonzalez leads the majors in batting average allowed with runners in scoring position.

"He's like Houdini out there," Baker said.

A native of Miami Dade County, Gonzalez is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Marlins this year. For his career against the Marlins, he is 10-3 with a 1.85 ERA.

Gonzalez is now 81-0, with 21 no-decisions, when he gets four or more runs in support.

Unlike previous times when Gonzalez has pitched in Miami, his family was not at Marlins Park for this game. In fact, there were few fans of anyone at the game.

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Miami and due to arrive by this weekend, there were less than 800 fans at Marlins Park at first pitch.

"Yes, you want fans here," Gonzalez said. "But at the same time, we prefer they be cautious, and safe and prepare for what's coming."

Miami rookie Dillon Peters (0-1), who pitched seven scoreless innings against the last-place Philadelphia Phillies last week in his major-league debut, was not as good against the first-place Nationals. He lasted just five innings and allowed six hits, two walks and three runs. He struck out six.

"They were coming ready to swing at the fastball," Peters said of Washington, "and I left a lot over the plate."

Washington opened the scoring with two runs in the first. Trea Turner hit a leadoff single, advanced on an Anthony Rendon walk and scored on Zimmerman's single. The Nationals made it 2-0 on Kendrick's RBI double.

Zimmerman led off the fourth with a homer to center to give Washington a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Miami used two walks and a single to load the bases with no outs. But J.T. Realmuto lined out to shortstop, and Gonzalez struck out Tyler Moore and rookie Brian Anderson to end the threat. Anderson, looking for an RBI walk, was called out looking at a 3-2 fastball down the middle.

Miami threatened again the fifth, getting runners on first and second. But Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 53 homers, bounced into an inning-ending double play.

After loading the bases with no outs, Washington doubled its lead to 6-0 in the sixth. The RBI sent to Jayson Werth (sacrifice fly), Jose Lobaton (walk) and Adam Lind (groundout).

Taylor, who like Gonzalez is from south Florida, made it 7-0 with his 14th homer, a solo shot in the eighth, and Rendon had an RBI single in the ninth.

"It's been hectic trying to get everything situated for myself and my family," Taylor said of the impending arrival of Irma. "But I'm kind of glad I'm here, close to home. It gives me a chance to help out before I leave."

NOTES: Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki got his 25th pinch hit, three short of John Vander Wal's major-league season record set in 1995. ... In terms of multi-hit games this year, the Marlins have four of the top 11 batters in the National League: LF Marcell Ozuna (second), 2B Dee Gordon (fourth), CF Christian Yelich (sixth) and RF Giancarlo Stanton (11th). ... Washington entered with three of the top five starters in the majors in terms of ERA: Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Stasburg. ... Miami opens a four-game series at the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. ... Washington returns home Thursday to open a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Stanton hits major league-leading 47th homer as Marlins rally past Phillies

(TSX / STATS) -- PHILADELPHIA -- In the thick of the wild-card chase, the Miami Marlins couldn't afford a four-game split with the MLB-worst Philadelphia Phillies.

And staring down a five-run deficit after four innings on the road, the Marlins' offense woke up at the right time to keep them in the chase.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 47th homer as the Miami Marlins rallied from a five-run deficit and reached the .500 mark with a 9-8 victory over the Phillies on Thursday.

"The boys hung in today," said Marlins skipper Don Mattingly, whose team swept a doubleheader Tuesday before getting drilled 8-0 on Wednesday. "I think it changes our trip, honestly. You're in a position that you can't afford, we sweep a doubleheader, get a little momentum, and then get beat up last night.

"If it happened again today, that kind of takes the wind out of your sails a little bit, but the fact that we were able to win a series, the last two, we go home, get a chance to do it, hopefully we set the tone tomorrow in the first game."

Prior to Thursday, the Marlins (63-63) hadn't been .500 for the first time since April 27. Getting back there also puts them right back in the wild-card hunt.

With 36 games to play, Miami is exactly 5 1/2 games back of Colorado (69-58) for the final playoff spot in the National League. Milwaukee (66-62) and St. Louis (64-62) are also in the way.

"We need all the wins we can get right now, that was a big one for us," said center fielder Christian Yelich, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. "Credit to the guys for battling the whole game and grinding it out. That was a good team win, team effort from everybody. It was a good way to cap the road trip."

Stanton hit his latest homer in the third inning off Jake Thompson before the Phillies took an 8-3 lead.

A.J. Ellis started the comeback with a two-run homer in the fifth, Yelich hit a solo homer in the sixth and J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run inside-the-park homer to tie the game in the sixth.

Realmuto's homer hit off the angled center-field wall and rolled away from two Philadelphia outfielders.

After hitting his second career inside-the-park homer, Realmuto drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Luis Garcia (1-4).

"(The inside-the-park home run) was nice," Mattingly said. "And actually the next one he hit, the line drive to score the run, if that ball gets by, that might have been another one right there."

Miami's bullpen was strong in relief of Vance Worley, who gave up eight runs in four innings of work. Five different relievers threw an inning each, limiting the Phillies offense to three hits and no runs.

Jarlin Garcia (1-2) threw a perfect seventh inning, striking out two, for his first major league win. Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his eighth save of the season, all of which have come this month.

Rookie Rhys Hopkins drove in three runs and hit his eighth homer for the Phillies. Tommy Joseph also homered and drove in three runs while rookie Nick Williams drove in the other two runs for Philadelphia.

"Great to see the guys swinging the bats and score runs the way they did, but pitching's the name of the game, we didn't see good pitching today," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.

Thompson allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the game. He was sent back down immediately afterwards.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead when Stanton scored on a ground-rule double by Marcell Ozuna after Williams lost the ball in center field. That was the second issue Williams had in the frame, after allowing Stanton's pop-up to drop in front of him.

"The first one he misplayed, the second one, he got lost in the sun," Mackanin said. "They scored a run, it happens."

Stanton put the Marlins up 2-1 when he homered to center field. The Marlins went up 3-1 on an RBI single by Derek Dietrich.

NOTES: To make room for RHP Jake Thompson on the roster, the Phillies optioned RHP Ricardo Pinto to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... Phillies LF Rhys Hoskins hit his eighth home run, tying him for the MLB record amongst all players in their first 15 games. ... The Phillies next welcome the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs to town for a three-game series Friday. Philadelphia RHP Jerad Eickhoff (3-7, 4.46 ERA) will face Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (8-10, 4.27) in the series opener. ... The Marlins will head home for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday night has Miami LHP Adam Conley (6-5, 4.93) against San Diego LHP Travis Wood (3-4, 5.81).

Hoskins, Leiter lead Phillies' rout of Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- PHILADELPHIA -- Coming up to bat in a one-run game with runners on first and second and nobody out, Philadelphia left fielder Rhys Hoskins had a curious question for Phillies manager Pete Mackanin.

Move the runners over or drive them in?

"He kind of just laughed at me," Hoskins said. "Rightfully so, I guess."

"I said, 'We're paying you to drive runs in, that's what we're paying you for,'" Mackanin quipped.

The rookie slugger listened.

Hoskins' three-run homer punctuated a five-run third inning as the Phillies backed a terrific outing by Mark Leiter Jr. with a well-rounded offensive performance en route to an 8-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Leiter Jr. carried a no-hitter through five innings -- a second-inning walk to Marcell Ozuna his only blemish until Miguel Rojas doubled to lead off the sixth.

The son of 11-year major league veteran Mark Leiter still finished what was the best of five major league starts thus far, going seven innings for the first time while giving up one hit and two walks. He struck out five.

"He kept us off-balanced, we never really got anything going," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Used both sides of the plate, knew how to pitch, a lot like his dad."

Leiter (2-3) lowered his ERA from 4.38 to 3.86.

"Just trying to command the strike zone, get ahead early," he said. "They've got a great lineup over there, so the key is getting ahead and just trying to keep guys off balance as much as you can and I think just executing that was the game plan."

The Phillies (46-79) chased Marlins starter Justin Nicolino with one out in the third inning, batting around while opening a 6-0 lead.

Hoskins, quickly becoming a sensation in a town starved for some positive results on the diamond, lit up the crowd of 19,161 with a three-run shot that hit the first row of the second deck in left field. He tacked on a two-run double in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 8-0.

That gave Hoskins seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his first 14 games -- numbers no Phillies hitter had achieved in the first 130-plus years of the franchise.

"You try to keep everything in check and not get too excited," Mackanin said, "but as I've said, what I saw in the spring is what I'm seeing now: quality at-bats."

The 24-year-old Hoskins, a fifth-round selection in 2014, was rated the No. 4 prospect in the organization by Baseball America and has already impressed with his power and overall approach at the plate. His homer, which came on a full count after he was down 0-2, was just the latest example.

"The thing about Hoskins is he knows the strike zone," Mackanin said. "He looks like a professional hitter. He's not afraid to get behind in the count. ... He's not afraid to go the other way."

Hoskins finished 2-for-3 to raise his average to .271, leading a Phillies offense that collected 11 hits.

Nicolino (2-2) was tagged for six runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

"That second time through (the lineup) it seemed like (Nicolino) had a lot of trouble," Mattingly said. "They weren't missing."

The loss snapped a run of three straight victories for the Marlins (62-63). Miami had rallied from nine games below .500 on July 19 to move within 5 1/2 games of Colorado for the second National League wild-card spot entering Wednesday night.

NOTES: The Marlins swept a doubleheader to open the four-game series on Tuesday, winning the first game 12-8 and the second 4-7. They will go for the series win on Thursday afternoon. Miami RHP Vance Worley (2-3, 4.82 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Jake Thompson (1-1, 4.20), expected to be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... The Phillies called up RHP Drew Anderson from Lehigh Valley and optioned OF Cam Perkins to the Triple-A club. ... The Marlins still lead the season series 6-5.

Marlins complete doubleheader sweep of Phillies

(TSX / STATS) -- PHILADELPHIA -- Behind a five-RBI day from Christian Yelich, the Miami Marlins swept the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader Tuesday night.

After taking the opener 12-8, Miami staved off a benign Phillies comeback to hang on for a 7-4 victory in Game 2.

"It's hard to win two," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Obviously, the first game went good for us. We were able to kind of keep (relievers Brad) Ziegler and (Kyle Barraclough) and those guys out of the game early, which allowed us to use 'Clough for two (innings) tonight.

"We scored early, that was good, too. We got some momentum, but those guys just kept coming back. It was one of those games you didn't feel good about because they seemed like they were going to keep scoring and it looked like we were done."

Yelich's four RBIs were just enough for Miami starter Jose Urena (12-5) in the second game. Urena threw five innings of three-run ball.

Yelich knocked in Dee Gordon in the top of the first inning for the second time in one day to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Marcel Ozuna mashed a two-run homer just a few pitches later to boost the edge to 3-0. The center fielder also took a home run away from Philadelphia's Nick Williams in the fifth inning, preserving the lead with a catch at the wall in right-center.

"It's the first one I've ever robbed," Yelich said. "I've been robbed a few times, so I know that feeling on the other end. It sucks, it's a terrible feeling. It's cool to rob one and keep some runs off the board. It helped us out there."

Phillies starter Nick Pivetta (4-9) labored through a 46-pitch first inning that featured a mound visit and some action in the bullpen.

Pivetta didn't fare any better in the top of the second. He served up a meatball to Yelich, who crushed a three-run homer to right-center field for a 6-0 Marlins lead.

After just 1 1/3 innings, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin turned to his bullpen for answers.

Edubray Ramos relieved Pivetta and got out of the second inning, and settled things down into the fourth inning.

Pivetta exited after surrendering six runs and seven hits while throwing 64 pitches. He walked one and struck out two.

"Just wasn't locating my pitches and they took advantage of it," Pivetta said. "I failed the team, failed myself. I'll learn from my failures."

Williams popped a solo home run off of Urena to lead off the fourth, and Andres Blanco followed later in the inning with a two-run homer to bring the Phillies back within 6-3.

Blanco battled Urena before homering on the 14th pitch of the at-bat after seven consecutive foul balls to stay alive.

Tommy Joseph hit his second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull Philadelphia within two, but the Marlins bullpen wouldn't allow the Phillies to get any closer.

Urena threw 101 pitches while striking out five Phillies, walking two and leaving with a 6-3 lead.

Earlier in the evening, just two months shy of his 44th birthday, Ichiro Suzuki led the power surge for Miami in the opener.

Suzuki stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh, pinch-hitting for starter Dan Straily (7-8), and took a 3-1 pitch from Phillies starter Aaron Nola (9-9) deep into right-center field for a three-run homer to give Miami and 6-3 lead.

"They have a tough lineup," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "If you don't pitch well, you're gonna get burned."

Straily struck out 10 in six innings. He gave up three runs on two hits and two walks. Nola was touched for seven runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.

NOTES: The Marlins swept a doubleheader for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015, when they also swept the Phillies behind eight hits from Christian Yelich. ... Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez (finger) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list and will miss the remainder of the 2017 season. ... Phillies RHP Zach Eflin was placed on the 10-day DL (retroactive to Aug. 19) with a right shoulder strain. ... Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki now has two career pinch-hit home runs, both against the Phillies.

Ichiro's pinch-hit blast sparks Marlins past Phillies

(TSX / STATS) -- PHILADELPHIA -- Just two months shy of his 44th birthday, it was Ichiro Suzuki who led the power surge for the Miami Marlins in game one of their doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ichiro stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh, pinch-hitting for starter Dan Straily (7-8, 3.83 ERA), and took a 3-1 pitch from Phillies starter Aaron Nola (9-9, 3.58 ERA) deep into right-center field for a three-run homer to give Miami and 6-3 lead before they eventually knocked off the Phillies 12-8.

But the surge didn't stop there. The game featured a whopping nine home runs between the two teams.

Two batters after Ichiro, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his torrid pace since the All-Star break by taking Nola deep over the right field fence and knocking him out of the game. It was Stanton's league-leading 46th home run and his 99th RBI (second of the game).

Phillies reliever Jensen Therrien couldn't stop the bleeding, though. Miami outfielder Marcel Ozuna hit a two-run home run that got out in a hurry over the left field fence and the Marlins were up 9-3 in the blink of an eye.

Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto put the cherry on top with a three-run bomb to right field in the top of the ninth to push the Marlins' advantage to 12-5.

The lone bright spot for Philadelphia was Rhys Hoskins. The rookie continues to mash big league pitching after finding his swing on the team's recent road trip.

The Phillies left fielder smashed his sixth home run in eight games when he took Marlins starter Dan Straily deep to center for a two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning. Initially ruled a double, umpires overturned the call and correctly awarded Hoskins a home run as Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead.

Miami answered in the top of the second inning when shortstop Miguel Rojas grounded out to score Derek Dietrich from third, squeezing out a second early run off Phillies ace Aaron Nola.

Stanton smoked a double to left center off Nola, scoring Rojas in the top of the fifth inning to give Miami a 3-2 lead.

But the lead didn't last long.

Cameron Rupp led off the bottom of the fifth with a line drive home run over the left field wall, his 13th homer of the season, to knot the game back up at three apiece.

Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit his eighth home run of the season off Dustin McGowan in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 9-5. A pinch-hit two run homer from Andres Blanco in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Phillies within four kept things interesting, but the comeback fell short at 12-8.

Straily (8-8) went six innings and surrendered just two hits while striking out 10 to earn the win for Miami. He battled the Phillies lineup, throwing 107 pitches in hot and humid weather with temperatures north of 90 degrees.

Nola took the loss after struggling in his second consecutive outing. The righty conceded seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, including four earned in the top of the seventh when the wheels fell off.

NOTES: Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez was transferred to the 60-day DL and will miss the remainder of the 2017 season (finger). ... Phillies RHP Zach Eflin was placed on the 10-day DL (retroactive to August 19) with a right shoulder strain. ... Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki now has two career pinch-hit home runs, both against the Phillies (Tuesday and September 6, 2016). ... Giancarlo Stanton continues to add to his league-leading home run total. He now has 46 homers, including a club-record 20 after All-Star Break.

Marlins deal Mets their fifth straight loss

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- The Miami Marlins moved one step closer Friday night to salvaging something out of a disappointing season. The New York Mets moved one step closer to finishing the fire sale generated by their underperformance.

J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Justin Nicolino posted his second straight win with five solid innings as the Marlins crept closer to .500 with a 3-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

While the streaking Marlins (59-61) won for the sixth time in seven games to move within within two games of .500 for the first time since May 3, the fifth straight loss for the free-falling Mets (53-67) was overshadowed by a postgame trade in which New York sent outfielder Curtis Granderson and cash considerations to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.

Granderson gained 33 games in the standings with the trade to the Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball at 86-34.

"A little bittersweet," Granderson said before exchanging hugs and phone numbers with now ex-teammates such as Robert Gsellman and Wilmer Flores. "But to get an opportunity to play in the postseason is going to be exciting."

Granderson, one of the few big-name free agent signings to work out for the Mets, was batting .228 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs this season.

He batted .239 with 95 homers and 247 RBIs while playing in 573 out of a possible 606 regular-season games for the Mets since signing as a free agent after the 2013 season. Granderson also hit .283 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 14 playoff games during the Mets' World Series run in 2015.

Granderson is the fifth veteran traded since July 27 by the Mets, who reached the National League wild-card game last year and were expected to be one of the NL's premier teams again this season.

But New York is 14 games below .500 for the first time since the end of the 2013 season and staring at the reality of trying to stay focused while playing out the string with unproven youngsters in the lineup and acres of empty seats at Citi Field, where the announced attendance Friday was 25,908.

"(With) all the rumors that are still flying, I think, yeah, the air might have been out of the building today a little bit," said Mets manager Terry Collins, who spoke a few minutes before the trade was officially announced. "That's my responsibility to make sure they get back and (are) ready for (Saturday)."

The Marlins, meanwhile, could be at .500 by the end of the weekend -- no small feat for a team that was last at the break-even mark on April 27 and fell as many as 13 games below .500.

"Just try to keep the emphasis on trying to win series," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Keep marching down the road. Obviously, we've got to get back to .500 before anything can happen. (Would) be good to be able to get there."

Marcell Ozuna lofted a sacrifice fly in the third inning for the Marlins. Giancarlo Stanton, whose six-game home run streak was snapped in Miami's previous game Wednesday, went 0-for-2 with two walks. Stanton leads the majors with 44 homers.

Nicolino (2-1) allowed one run, six hits and no walks while striking out one as he won consecutive starts for the first time since April 27-May 3, 2016. Four relievers combined to limit the Mets to one hit the rest of the way, with Brad Ziegler picking up his fifth save with a perfect ninth.

"He's kept us in the game," Mattingly said of Nicolino. "I think that's what we've tried to ask, tried to get our guys buy into.

"It's not really about six (innings), it's not really about seven (innings). It's really about leave the game with the lead, keep us in the game, let our bullpen go."

Wilmer Flores had an RBI single in the fourth for the Mets. Asdrubal Cabrera and Amed Rosario each had two hits. Rosario added a stolen base.

Rookie right-hander Chris Flexen (2-2) took the loss after allowing the three runs, five hits and four walks while striking out one in 5 1/3 innings.

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed one hour and 53 minutes by rain. ... The matchup of Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino and Mets RHP Chris Flexen marked just the third time this season both starters in a game pitched at least five innings and had one strikeout or fewer. It also happened in a Marlins-San Francisco Giants game on Monday and an Atlanta Braves-Pittsburgh Pirates game on May 25. ... Mets INF Wilmer Flores returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore left oblique. ... Marlins LHP Wei-Yin Chen (left elbow) threw a two-inning simulated game Friday.

LEADING OFF: Stanton powers into NY, Red Sox host Yankees

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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BROADWAY BOUND

Giancarlo Stanton takes his home run show to the Big Apple when Miami visits the New York Mets. Stanton, who leads the majors with 44 homers, had gone deep in six straight games and 10 of 12 before San Francisco kept him in the ballpark Wednesday. "He's hurt us enough in the past to know that he can be so dangerous," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've noticed a change in his approach at the plate. So we've got to make certainly some adjustments in how we're going to pitch him." Stanton said he would enjoy facing new Mets closer AJ Ramos, traded by the Marlins late last month. The big slugger said his former teammate told him he's going to cool off his bat. "It'll be funny facing him. We've been talking trash to each other," Stanton said.

FENWAY SHOWDOWN

The AL East-leading Red Sox host the rival Yankees in the latest installment of their rivalry as they open a three-game weekend series. Boston, winner of 12 of 14, leads the division by four games over New York, which is coming off a four straight wins against the crosstown-rival Mets. Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz (12-4, 3.39 ERA) looks to extend his career-best six-game winning streak when he faces the Yankees' Jordan Montgomery (7-6, 3.94).

SURGING ANGELS

The Los Angeles Angels have won seven of eight games to vault into the second AL wild-card spot heading into a weekend series at Baltimore. Five of the victories have been comebacks as the Angels have improved to 62-59 and jumped over Minnesota, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Orioles in a crowded AL wild-card race. Star center fielder Mike Trout has led the resurgence as he is batting .343 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs, 26 walks and 22 runs scored while helping Los Angeles go 17-12 since his return on July 14 after missing 39 games due to a thumb injury.

INDIANS SURGING, TOO

Cleveland looks to bounce back after a 4-2 loss at Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday night snapped a six-game winning streak. The AL Central Division-leading Indians open a weekend series at Kansas City with Corey Kluber (11-3, 2.71) going against the Royals' Ian Kennedy (4-8, 4.80).

LAST-PLACE MATCHUP

Philadelphia and San Francisco continue a four-game series between the two worst teams in the National League. The Giants, cellar-dwellers in the West, send Matt Moore (3-12, 5.71) against the major league-worst Phillies and Zach Eflin (1-4, 5.76). San Francisco won 5-4 in the series opener Thursday night.

Stanton kept in park in Marlins' rout of Giants

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton was realistic after his franchise-record streak of home runs in six consecutive games was snapped.

"I ain't going to hit a homer in 45 games straight," Stanton said.

Stanton, who leads the majors with 44 homers, still went 2-for-4 on Wednesday as his Miami Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants 8-1 at Marlins Park.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who homered in eight consecutive games in 1987, holds the major league record -- along with Ken Griffey Jr. and Dale Long.

"It would've been cool to mess with (Mattingly) a bit if I could've (broken his record)," Stanton said. "But I felt good. We won."

Jose Urena (11-5), who leads the Marlins in wins, allowed just one run, unearned, in five innings, improving his ERA to 3.61. Urena got defensive help in the third inning from speedy second baseman Dee Gordon, who fielded a one-hop grounder from Nick Hundley and beat the catcher to the first-base bag.

Despite not going deep on Wednesday, Stanton has slugged 11 homers in his past 13 games and 23 in 36 games. He is on pace to hit 60 homers this year, a milestone reached by only five players in major league history.

"He's going to hit 60," Urena said of Stanton. "I hope he hits 61 and 62.

"For the fans, everyone is waiting for him to hit a home run. That's what we (as players) are waiting for, too."

With Stanton held in check, little-used first baseman Tomas Telis, making just his ninth start of the year, went 2-for-4 with a season-high three RBIs.

Telis helped the Marlins (58-61) take two of three games from the Giants (48-74). The Marlins have now won six of their past eight series.

Giants starter Matt Cain (3-10), who lasted just four innings, allowed five runs, two earned. He is winless in his past 13 starts, going a career-worst 0-9 in that span. He hasn't won a game in more than three months (May 15).

All three of Cain's unearned runs occurred in the first inning, when Miami scored four times.

The Giants were hurt by catcher's interference charged against Hundley and a fielding error on shortstop Brandon Crawford. Miami's biggest hit of the inning was a two-run, opposite-field double by Telis.

Stanton got hit by a pitch in the second inning when Cain tried to tie him up inside on a full-count, 91-mph fastball.

"He's been pretty comfortable (at the plate)," Cain said of Stanton. "I tried to keep him off balance.

"That's the biggest thing with Stanton -- if he gets extended, he has a good chance of putting good wood on the ball. ... It got away from me. It's 3-2. I tried to be on the inner-third. I tried to keep the barrel off (the ball), and I missed way up."

San Francisco, taking advantage of a two-out fielding error by Telis, scored a run in the third, cutting Miami's lead to 4-1.

But the Marlins went ahead 5-1 in the bottom of the third when Derek Dietrich smoked a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on a single by Telis. It was Dietrich's fifth triple of the year, tying his career best.

Giants reliever Albert Suarez walked two batters in the fifth, and that led to a pair of Marlins runs on RBI singles by Mike Aviles and pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki. It was Suzuki's 20th pinch hit of the season, one short of the Marlins record set by Ross Gload in 2009.

Miami got its final run in the seventh when pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas' single drove in Aviles.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who has started 16 different outfielders and eight third basemen in an injury-plagued season, didn't take solace in breaking Stanton's streak.

"I'd rather he hit a home run," Bochy said, "and we win the game."

NOTES: Marlins RHP Jose Urena has 11 wins following a team loss, leading the majors in that category. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton on Tuesday finished a stretch of 35 games in which he hit 23 homers. Only three other hitters in major league history have matched or exceeded that stretch in one season: Sammy Sosa (25 in 1998), Barry Bonds (24, 2001) and Mark McGwire (23, 1999). ... Giants 2B Joe Panik was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list retroactive to Monday. He was hit on the head during a home-plate collision on Sunday at the Washington Nationals. ... Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (blisters) will throw a bullpen session on Friday. ... INF Miguel Gomez (right knee) will start a rehab assignment on Thursday at Class A San Jose and could be activated by the Giants by Saturday. ... Miami opens a three-game series at the New York Mets on Friday. ... The Giants return home to open a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

Stanton is the show in Giants-Marlins series

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 44 homers, is putting on a spectacular power show.

Stanton has homered in six consecutive games -- two short of the major league record -- and will try to keep it going on Wednesday afternoon when his Miami Marlins (57-61) play the San Francisco Giants (48-73) in the rubber game of a three-game series.

"You have to be a little more careful with a guy like that," Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner said after allowing a home run to Stanton but also striking him out on Tuesday.

Outside of Stanton, Wednesday's game has little meaning. The Giants have the second-worst record in the National League and are just trying to get the season over with as quickly as possible.

The Marlins, 8 1/2 games out of the wild-card race, have dreams of getting into contention. But a 9-4 loss Tuesday to the lowly Giants showed, once again, that Miami is simply too inconsistent to be taken seriously at the moment.

So without a playoff race to monitor, the game will be all about Stanton, who has hit 11 homers in his past 12 games and 22 in his past 35.

The last major-leaguer to homer in six straight games before Stanton was Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who accomplished the feat in 2015.

Stanton's 11 homers in August are a Marlins record for this month. His 11 homers in the first 15 days of any month put him in rare company as only three other players in major league history have done that: Ralph Kiner in 1949, Sammy Sosa in 1998 and Troy Tulowitzki in 2010.

Since the All-Star break, Stanton has 18 homers, which leads the majors and ties a Marlins record.

On Wednesday, assuming he is in the lineup in a day game after a night game, Stanton will face Giants right-hander Matt Cain (3-9, 5.22 ERA), who has been very hittable the past several years.

Cain, who hasn't started since July 31, hasn't produced a double-figure-win season since 2012. The last time he had an ERA under 4.00 was also in 2012.

The only reason he is in the lineup on Wednesday is because the Giants needed an extra starter due to a Sunday doubleheader at Washington.

Cain, 32, is making his 21st start and 23rd appearance of the season. He is winless in his past 12 starts, going 0-8 with a 6.29 ERA. He hasn't won a game since May 15.

Perhaps there is some optimism for Giants fans in that Cain is 6-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 17 career starts against the Marlins. In his only appearance against Miami this season, Cain gave up two walks (one intentional) in a one-third of any inning.

Cain will be opposed by right-hander Jose Urena, who has assumed the role of Marlins ace. Urena (10-5, 3.76 ERA) leads the Marlins in wins but has been vulnerable to the long ball (17 homers). He has also battled control issues, hitting 13 batters.

Urena has faced the Giants just twice, including one start, and he is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in those appearances. In his one start against San Francisco this year, he gave up three runs and five hits (including two homers) in five innings.

Those are not good numbers, but they are trumped by Cain's road record this year: 0-6 with a 7.69 ERA.

So, if all else fails, sit back and enjoy Stanton's chase at history, a story that comes with a twist since Marlins manager Don Mattingly is one of three players who homered in eight straight games, joining Dale Long and Ken Griffey Jr.

"Mine was a little eighty-day-er," said Mattingly, downplaying his home run streak that started on July 8, 1987 and lasted until July 18. "It is just one of those things that you just feel good up there."

Stanton, who has driven in 94 runs this year, is on pace for 129 RBIs, which would break Preston Wilson's franchise record. Wilson drove in 121 runs in 2000.

However, the home run chase is getting far more attention, and Mattingly is one of the few people on earth who knows what it is like to be this hot and this consistent with a power stroke over six games or more.

Mattingly, who hit 10 homers during his incredible streak in 1987, had "only" 30 long balls overall that season. But he still had a great year, batting .327 with 38 doubles, two triples, 115 RBIs and a .937 OPS. Mattingly was 26 years old at the time, and the most amazing thing was that it wasn't his best year in any of those categories.

Now he is managing Stanton ... and rooting for him as well.

"I would like to see him beat (the record) because that means he hits a homer tomorrow and the first two games in New York (against the Mets)," Mattingly said. "The last thing I'm going to do is root against him hitting homers.

"We're trying to win games."

LEADING OFF: Stanton swings for 7 straight; Kinsler eyes ump

A look at what’s happening all around the majors today:

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RECORD CHASE

Streaking slugger Giancarlo Stanton tries to hit a home run in his seventh straight game when the Marlins host the Giants. Struggling right-hander Matt Cain (3-9, 5.22 ERA) starts for San Francisco. Stanton, who leads the majors with a team-record 44 homers this season, has four in 22 career at-bats against Cain. The major league record for consecutive games with a home run is eight, set by Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993). Stanton has 11 homers in his last 12 games, and 23 in the last 35.

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

The Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1967 AL championship before facing St. Louis at Fenway Park. Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski and ace pitcher Jim Lonborg are among the members of that “Impossible Dream” team scheduled to attend the ceremony. Following a thrilling, four-team race that came down to the final day of the season, the pennant Boston won in ’67 was its first in 21 years. Those beloved Red Sox lost to the Cardinals in the World Series.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

One day after harshly criticizing Angel Hernandez and saying the veteran umpire should find another job, Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler could be just steps away from Hernandez much of the night. A normal rotation for the umps would put Hernandez at second base when Detroit plays the Texas Rangers. Kinsler was ejected by Hernandez for questioning his calls on balls and strikes Monday night. The next day, the four-time All-Star told reporters covering the Tigers that Hernandez is a bad umpire who is “messing” with games “blatantly.”

ON THE MEND

Indians reliever Andrew Miller is set to pitch one inning in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus. If all goes well, the All-Star lefty is expected to come off the disabled list Friday in Kansas City. Miller has been out since Aug. 2 with right knee patella tendinitis. He is 4-3 with a 1.67 ERA and two saves in 46 games this season.

TRACK CHANGE

Rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman comes off the disabled list to start for the New York Mets as the Subway Series shifts to Citi Field. Gary Sanchez and the Yankees won the first two matchups this week in the Bronx. Gsellman was 5-5 with a 6.16 ERA when he injured his hamstring in late June. He’ll pitch in place of Seth Lugo, put on the 10-day DL with a right shoulder impingement. Left-hander Jaime Garcia makes his third start for the Yankees after coming over in a trade. Mets fans also will have their eyes on the minors: Matt Harvey (shoulder) is set for his second rehab outing with Class A Brooklyn, and closer Jeurys Familia begins his rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie. It will be Familia’s first game since having surgery for a blood clot in his shoulder.

NOTHING EARNED

Rangers lefty Cole Hamels is slated to pitch against Detroit. Hamels (7-1, 3.31 ERA) has won his first two starts in August by allowing only one run in 16 innings — and it was unearned. It is the second time this season he has tossed at least seven innings in consecutive games without giving up an earned run. Hamels threw seven scoreless innings against Houston last Friday, staying in the game after a comebacker ricocheted off his left knee in the fourth. He is 29-7 in 58 regular-season starts for the Rangers since they acquired him from Philadelphia in July 2015.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Giants overcome another Stanton homer, beat Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Don Mattingly, manager of the Miami Marlins and former New York Yankees hitting star, is one of the few people in the world who truly knows how Giancarlo Stanton feels right now.

Stanton homered for the sixth consecutive game, but Miami blew a seventh-inning lead as the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 9-4 win on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.

"What Giancarlo has been doing is just incredible," said Mattingly, who, along with Ken Griffey Jr. and Dale Long, holds the major league record with homers in eight straight games. "Any time he is up there ... he's right on a lot of balls. He's very dangerous right now."

Stanton leads the majors with 44 homers. He has gone deep 11 times in his past 12 games and 23 times in 35 games. He is on pace to hit 60 homers this year, a milestone reached by only five players in major league history.

However, the Giants (48-73) were able to steal some of Stanton's thunder, evening the three-game series against Miami (57-61). The Marlins had their season-high-tying, four-game win streak snapped.

San Francisco took advantage of a poor night by Miami's bullpen, especially Junichi Tazawa (2-3), who did not register an out in the seventh inning, allowing four hits and three runs.

The big blows in the seventh were delivered by Carlos Moncrief on an RBI single and Hunter Pence with a run-scoring double.

"I just missed my spots," Tazawa said through an interpreter.

Center fielder Denard Span, who singled in that inning, homered earlier in the game and finished 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.

Rookie first baseman Ryder Jones, who hit a solo homer in the eighth to increase San Francisco's lead to 7-4, also had a big game, including a double. It was the first time in his brief career that he posted two extra-base hits in one game.

Madison Bumgarner (3-5) earned the win, allowing nine hits and four runs in six innings. He also had an RBI single.

Bumgarner, a four-time All-Star and a three-time World Series champion, gave up the homer to Stanton.

"That was a matchup a lot of baseball fans and us in the game were looking forward to," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Bumgarner won't back down."

The left-hander said it was enjoyable going up against Stanton.

"I might not have gone about it in the smartest way," said Bumgarner, referencing the fact that he challenged a red-hot hitter, "but it was certainly fun. (Stanton) is locked in."

The Giants are now 3-8 in Bumgarner's starts this season, including 1-5 on the road.

Meanwhile, Marlins starter Dan Straily, who allowed three runs in five innings, had to settle for a no-decision after Miami's bullpen imploded. Straily had beaten the Giants every time he had faced them previously, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA.

Miami wasted no time in scoring. In the first inning, Stanton crushed a single to left and scored when Christian Yelich, batting cleanup for the first time this season, drove a double over the head of Span in center field.

San Francisco took a 2-1 lead in the third on Span's eighth homer of the season, a two-run shot.

In the bottom of the third, Stanton tied the score with his homer, and Miami grabbed a 3-2 lead on J.T. Realmuto's sacrifice fly, scoring Marcell Ozuna, who had singled to start the rally.

Backup catcher A.J. Ellis hit his third homer of the season in the fourth, giving Miami a 4-2 lead. Two of Ellis' homers this year have come against the Giants.

San Francisco's comeback began in the fifth as Jones hit a leadoff double and scored on Bumgarner's line-drive single to left.

"In my mind, I made one mistake the whole day," Straily said, "the pitch I left over the middle to Bumgarner."

The Giants got to Tazawa in the seventh, ending a two-game losing streak and allowing Bochy the opportunity to poke fun at Bumgarner, who got picked off second base in the third inning.

Asked about Bumgarner's reaction time, Bochy joked: "He looked like a Clydesdale getting back."

NOTES: Miami placed LHP Jarlin Garcia (biceps) on the disabled list and activated RHP Kyle Barraclough (shoulder). ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton on his home run barrage: "It's a nice buzz for sports, for baseball and for Miami." ... Marlins 2B Dee Gordon leads the National League with 16 games of three or more hits. ... Marlins RHP Nick Wittgren, who hasn't pitched since July 27, said his elbow soreness has subsided, and he could return this month. ... Giants 2B Joe Panik, who was hit in the head on Sunday in a collision at the plate, will likely avoid the disabled list and could return this week. ... Giants RHP Matt Cain (3-9, 5.22 ERA), who hasn't started since July 31, will open Wednesday's series finale. San Francisco needed an extra starter due to a Sunday doubleheader. Miami will start RHP Jose Urena (10-5, 3.76 ERA).

Stanton breaks Marlins' homer record in win over Giants

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Dee Gordon, normally quiet around the media, strutted into the interview room and started talking happily even before the first question was asked.

"Yes, (Giancarlo) Stanton is good," Gordon said with a smile, knowing that the Miami Marlins slugger was -- again -- the main story on the team, just as he has been so often the past month.

Earlier Monday night, Stanton broke the franchise single-season record for homers and knocked in three runs, leading Miami to an 8-3 win over the San Francisco Giants at Marlins Park.

Stanton's 43rd homer of the year topped Gary Sheffield's 21-year franchise record. It was the fifth straight game in which Stanton has homered, breaking another club record, and this time it was a two-run shot in the first following a Gordon single.

"It's been my fault the past week and a half because I haven't been getting on base to start the game, so he's only been getting one RBI," said Gordon, who went 3-for-5 and leads the National League with 16 games of three or more hits. "For him to get two RBIs was pretty cool."

Facing Giants starter Ty Blach (8-8), Stanton lined a 2-0 pitch over the left-field fence. The pitch was clocked at 91 mph, and the drive went 382 feet, shorter than most of Stanton's titanic blasts.

"It doesn't need to be," Stanton said of the distance. "(Blach's pitch) was a little in on me."

Gordon said this is the happiest he has seen Stanton.

"Finally," Gordon said. "I've been with him for three years, and for him to finally have a smile on his face and some charisma is pretty cool."

Gordon, who has 40 steals this season, said he won't run anymore while Stanton is batting.

"I just have to stay still so he can hit," Gordon said. "If I go to second, they might walk him."

Stanton has hit 10 homers in his past 11 games and 22 long balls in his past 34 contests. He is on pace to hit 60 homers this season, a number that has been reached by only five players in major-league history: Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.

"He's not just a hot hitter," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Stanton. "We're talking 'en fuego' with the long ball."

The Marlins (57-60) have won four games in a row, tying their season best. The Giants (47-73) have the third-worst record in the majors.

Adam Conley (5-5) earned the win, allowing six hits, three walks and three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Blach, only the third San Francisco Giants left-hander to win at least eight games as a rookie, allowed nine hits, three walks and six runs. Unfortunately for him, he got into trouble right away with Gordon and then Stanton.

"We were trying to get inside on (Stanton)," Blach said. "He tries to get his arms extended."

After Stanton did just that, the Giants scored three times when they batted around in the third. The big blows were a two-run, ground-rule double by Denard Span that hopped the fence in right and Hunter Pence's RBI single.

Miami rallied in the bottom of the third. Gordon singled and tagged up, taking second on a fly ball by Stanton that Span caught against the fence in left-center. Gordon scored on Christian Yelich's single, tying the score 3-3.

Stanton came through with a two-out RBI single as part of a two-run fourth, stroking a 0-2 pitch to left. Gordon also contributed an RBI single in the inning.

Marcell Ozuna led off the fifth by hitting the first pitch over the fence in center. His 27th homer of the season gave Miami a 6-3 lead.

Miami closed the scoring with two more runs in the seventh, highlighted by Tyler Moore's RBI double. Moore then scored on a Nick Hundley passed ball, and Miami nearly scored one more but shortstop Brandon Crawford threw Derek Dietrich out at the plate.

The story, though, was Stanton, and his teammates are thrilled for his success, especially after injuries have cut most of his prior seasons short.

"(Stanton) is finally healthy," Gordon said, "and he's killing people."

NOTES: Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton, who hit .333 with six homers and 11 RBIs in seven games, was named the NL Player of the Week. It's the fifth career Player of the Week honor for Stanton. ... Stanton is the Marlins' all-time home run leader with 251. Dan Uggla is second with 154. ... Marlins RHP Kyle Barraclough (shoulder) is expected to come off the disabled list this week. ... Giants RHP Sam Dyson, a former Marlins reliever, has nine saves in 10 chances and a 2.23 ERA in 24 appearances for San Francisco. ... The Giants arrived in Miami a tired team, having played three games in 24 hours, including a doubleheader at the Washington Nationals that finished Sunday night. ... Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (right flexor) is set to throw a bullpen session this week. He hasn't pitched since July 14.

Stanton hits 42nd HR as Marlins defeat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- It was a lost weekend for the seemingly playoff-bound Colorado Rockies, and Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was a big reason why.

Stanton hit his 42nd homer of the season, tying a franchise record set by Gary Sheffield in 1996 and leading Miami to a 5-3 victory over Colorado on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.

"I really enjoyed watching (Sheffield) play as a kid - it's good company to be in," Stanton said. "It's not something I will fully appreciate until the year is over. But it's a cool thing to have under my belt, and I have time to get more."

The Marlins (56-60) swept the series from Colorado (65-52). It was Miami's first three-game sweep since July 7-9 at the San Francisco Giants, and its first home sweep since beating the Philadelphia Phillies in May.

Colorado still has a four-game lead in the battle for one of two NL wild-card spots, but the Rockies have lost five of their past six games.

To make matters worse for Colorado, third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the majors in RBIs, was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Marlins starter Vance Worley. Arenado left the game immediately, but X-rays were negative.

"It hurt real bad," Arenado said. "It got real tight. That was my concern -- how tight it was getting. Luckily, it's not broken, but it's swollen pretty good. It's hard to move my pinkie.

"I've gotten hit in the hand before, but it didn't feel like this. It was a two-seam fastball, up and in. I tried to get out of the way, but it hit me. Whenever you get hit in the hand, it scares you."

Arenado, a four-time Gold Glove winner and a three-time All-Star, said he was told by team doctors that a stint on the disabled list is not likely.

"It will take some time," Arenado said, "hopefully (just) a couple days."

Either way, it was a frustrating series for Arenado, who was ejected from Saturday's game after he was called out on a check swing.

Stanton, who leads the majors in homers, had a much better weekend. He became the sixth-fastest player to reach 250 homers, dating to 1913. Stanton also has hit nine homers in the past 10 games and 21 in the past 33.

"Big G (Stanton) is impressive," said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, a great hitter in his day.

Besides Stanton, the key for Miami on Sunday was the bullpen. Starter Vance Worley lasted just four-plus innings and got a no-decision. But reliever Javy Guerra (1-0) got out of a two-on, two-out jam created by Worley in the fifth. Guerra pitched two hitless and scoreless innings, earning his first major-league win since 2014.

Overall, Miami's bullpen pitched five scoreless innings. That includes Odrisamer Despaigne, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first major-league save.

Colorado starter German Marquez (9-5) took the loss, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings. His streak of six straight quality starts -- a Rockies rookie record -- was snapped. He had been 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA during that stretch.

Miami opened the scoring with two runs in the second. After J.T. Realmuto was hit by a pitch and Tomas Telis singled, the Marlins had runners on second and third with two outs.

On a 2-2 count, Worley hit an outside pitch to right field. Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez made a diving catch, but it was trapped, and his strong throw home could not prevent two runs from scoring.

Colorado took a 3-2 lead in the third. Like Miami's rally, this one was also started by a leadoff hit-by-pitch. After Charlie Blackmon was plunked and DJ LeMahieu singled, Colorado pounced.

Gerardo Parra had an RBI single, and Gonzalez hit a two-run single. Ryan McMahon nearly had an RBI groundout. But upon video replay, he was called out at first, and the Marlins took a run off the board on an inning-ending double play.

Stanton's homer, an opposite-field job to right in the bottom of the third, tied the score 3-3.

"It was a good pitch," Marquez said of his 98-mph fastball on the outside corner. "But he's a good hitter."

Miami took a 5-3 lead in the fourth on Mike Aviles' two-round double into the left-field corner, and the bullpen did the rest.

NOTES: Rockies rookie 1B Ryan McMahon, who made his first big-league start, got an eighth-inning single for his first hit. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton leads the majors with 19 go-ahead homers, which is also a franchise record. Stanton's homer on Saturday was No. 100 for him in his career at Marlins Park. ... Rockies manager Bud Black (illness) was back in the dugout after missing Saturday's game. ... The Rockies return home on Monday to face the Atlanta Braves. Colorado RHP Chad Bettis, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November of 2016, will make his 2017 big-league debut. ... The Marlins on Monday open a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.

Stanton's 41st homer helps Marlins beat Rockies

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who leads the majors in RBIs, was ejected.

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors in homers, went deep again.

That contrast was indicative of which team had the better fortune on Saturday night as Stanton drilled a tiebreaking, three-run shot to left to lead Miami to a 4-3 win over Colorado at Marlins Park.

Arenado, who went 0-for-4, was thrown out of the game in the seventh inning after he argued a strike-three check-swing call.

First-base umpire Pat Hoberg was the one who ejected Arenado.

"(Hoberg) told me he was instructed to do that when a guy throws his bat and looks at him," said Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond, who was filling in for manager Bud Black, who was ill. "I explained to (Hoberg) in the calmest voice I have that I felt that was wrong, and he didn't have to do that. But the damage was already done."

Black is expected to return on Sunday, when Miami (55-60) goes for the series sweep against Colorado (65-51), which has lost four of its past five games. Redmond, a former Marlins manager, will return to his role as bench coach.

Stanton, who once played for Redmond, has 41 homers, one short of the franchise single-season record set by Gary Sheffield in 1996. Stanton has 20 homers in the past 32 games.

The homer by Stanton snapped a 1-1, fourth-inning tie. Overall, Stanton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, falling just a triple short of a cycle.

"Fuego," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said, flexing his Spanish-language muscles to describe how hot Stanton is right now. "It seems like every day you can count on him hitting one."

Stanton, who struck out in his final at-bat, was asked if he thought about the cycle.

"After the homer, yeah," Stanton said. "Then I messed it up -- swung at everything."

Center fielder Charlie Blackmon led Colorado with four hits and two steals. He led off an inning five times and went 4-for-5, with Marlins first baseman Tyler Moore robbing him of a hit on his final at-bat in the ninth.

Still, Blackmon leads the majors in runs (105), triples (13), multi-hit games (51) and total bases (291). He also leads the National League with 159 hits.

Miami's Justin Nicolino (1-1) allowed six hits, four walks and two runs, one earned, in 5 1/3 innings. He earned his first win at Marlins Park since May 3, 2016.

Jeff Hoffman (6-4) took the loss, allowing seven hits, three walks and four runs.

"I felt a little bit out of whack," said Hoffman, who is winless in his past five appearances, including three losses. "It didn't feel like much, but it was enough to affect everything."

Both teams scored in the first inning.

Blackmon led off the game with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on Mark Reynolds' RBI single.

Miami tied the score 1-1 when Stanton doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Marcell Ozuna's groundout.

After Stanton's two-out homer gave Miami a 4-1 lead, Colorado got one run back. Blackmon singled and stole second base again, advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher J.T. Realmuto and scored on DJ LeMahieu's sacrifice fly.

Colorado cut its deficit to 4-3 in the eighth. Reynolds drew a five-pitch walk, advanced to third on a Jonathan Lucroy single and scored on a Carlos Gonzalez groundout. Pinch hitter Ryan McMahon, making his major league debut, flied out to the edge of the warning track in center, ending the threat.

Brad Ziegler, who escaped a two-on jam, pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. He struck out Gerardo Parra, who swung at a 2-2 pitch, to end the game.

NOTES: Colorado signed 1B Ryan Howard, 37, to a minor-league contract. Howard, who twice led the majors in homers, had been out of baseball since being released by the Atlanta Braves on May 8. ... Since 2000, only two players -- David Ortiz in 2006 and Chris Davis in 2013 -- have reached 40 homers quicker than Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton, who accomplished the feat on Friday. ... When rosters can expand to up to 40 players on Sept. 1, look for the Marlins to promote 3B Brian Anderson, who is hitting .267 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs this year between Double-A and Triple-A. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado and CF Charlie Blackmon rank 1-2 in the majors in extra-base hits. In baseball history, teammates have finished 1-2 in the majors in extra-base hits just three times: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1926 and 1927 and Tony Armas and Dwight Evans for the 1984 Boston Red Sox.

Late heroics push Nationals past Marlins

(TSX / STATS) -- WASHINGTON -- The depth of the Washington Nationals organization, especially in the outfield, was on display Thursday night.

Center fielder Brian Goodwin hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth, and rookie Andrew Stevenson, a late replacement in left field after being used as a pinch runner, made a diving catch near the foul line for the final out as the Nationals rallied to defeat the Miami Marlins 3-2.

"I played in some big spots before -- not the big leagues," said Stevenson, who collected his first major league hit July 28. "I am excited to be here and try to contribute."

There is no guarantee Stevenson will be with the Nationals much longer as regular center fielder Michael A. Taylor appears ready to return from the disabled list after making another minor league rehab appearance earlier Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg in nearby Bowie, Md.

But for now, the Nationals will celebrate the baserunning and defense of Stevenson, who is hitting .133 in 14 major league games.

"A hell of a play, an awesome catch," said Tanner Roark, the Nationals' starting pitcher. "I was holding my breath."

Goodwin hit his 13th homer of the year, going deep to right against reliever Junichi Tazawa (1-2). Goodwin had two hits Thursday, and 17 of his 24 hits since July 17 have been for extra bases.

Trailing 2-0 after five, the Nationals tied the game in the sixth. Goodwin had an RBI single, and Bryce Harper laced a run-scoring double.

Miami manager Don Mattingly lamented lost chances as the Marlins dropped three of four games in the series. One mistake came in the sixth with Harper at the plate and Goodwin on second.

"Instead of throwing a back pick, we threw a pitch (to Harper). If we don't get (the pickoff), we walk Harper. We don't want to pitch to Harper," said Mattingly, who noted Harper had a run-scoring double. "Just little stuff, missing signs, signals. Those things that you see that end up hurting us in the end. I am trying to pick that guy off."

First-place Washington (68-45) is 15 games ahead of the Marlins (53-60), who are 6-7 against the Nationals this year, in the National League East.

Roark went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits with five walks and four strikeouts.

"He kept us in the game," Washington manager Dusty Baker said.

Said Roark: "It was one of those nights. I didn't have the velocity. I had to hit my spots."

Miami starter Dan Straily gave up two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He has never beaten the Nationals in five starts. He admitted the Marlins missed the pickoff sign.

"It was a miscommunication," he said. "And it was something that I realized, I thought it was a different sign the entire season, so I'm lucky that the other times I've done it I haven't missed it. And it's frustrating to miss a sign like that. Miss the sign and miss the location on the pitch."

The winning pitcher was Ryan Madson (2-0 with Washington), who retired all three batters in the eighth after Brandon Kintzler pitched a scoreless seventh.

Sean Doolittle tossed the ninth to get his seventh save with the Nationals. He allowed a one-out double to Miguel Rojas before retiring Dee Gordon (two hits) for the final out as Stevenson made the highlight-reel catch.

Gordon was thrown out stealing in the seventh as he slid headfirst into second.

"I think the umpire stepped on his hand. He's OK," Mattingly said.

Giancarlo Stanton, the major leagues' home run leader, smashed a two-run shot to left off Roark in the third to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

It was his 39th homer of the season and the 19th of his career at Nationals Park, the most of any opposing player.

Baker said the Nationals will have tough decisions with roster moves looming.

"That is part of being on a good team," he said.

NOTES: Lorenzo Bundy, the outfield/baserunning coach for the Marlins, grew up in nearby Tappahannock, Va., and starred at James Madison University in Virginia. He presented the lineup card for manager Don Mattingly. ... Washington RHP Edwin Jackson (2-2, 434 ERA) will face the visiting San Francisco Giants and RHP Chris Stratton (0-2, 6.63) on Friday. ... Marlins RHP Jose Urena (10-5, 3.70) will oppose the Colorado Rockies and RHP Jon Gray (4-2, 4.94) on Friday in Miami. ... Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (right elbow nerve impingement) will either pitch another simulated game or make a minor league rehab appearance after he threw a simulated game of 57 pitches Wednesday. "We haven't decided yet," manager Dusty Baker said.