Hockey Notebook: Once again, Stamkos and Kucherov shine; Shattenkirk, Rangers top Panthers

Steven Stamkos scored and leads the NHL with 25 points (seven goals, eight assists) this season. The Lightning have won 11 of their first 15 games of a season for the third time in franchise history (11-4-0 in 2013-14, 11-3-1 in 2014-15).

Nikita Kucherov scored his League-leading 14th goal of the season and ranks second in the NHL with 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) overall.

The Lightning donned retro jerseys in pre-game warmup to celebrate their 2003-04 team, who captured the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

SHATTENKIRK LIFTS RANGERS OVER PANTHERS

Kevin Shattenkirk scored his second goal of the contest at 1:08 of overtime to power the New York Rangers Rangers to their third straight win with a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Shattenkirk is tied for 1st among NHL defensemen in games with a point in 2017-18 (10) & leads Rangers defensemen in goals (4), assists (9), and points (13). J.T. Miller tied single-game career-highs with 3 assists and 3 points, and leads the Rangers in assists this season (11).

The Rangers have earned a win in each of their last 3 games, in 4 of their last 5 games (4-1-0), and in 5 of their last 7 games (5-2-0). The Rangers have earned at least 1 point in 7 of their last 9 games, dating back to Oct. 17 vs. PIttsburgh (5-2-2) & have tallied 34 goals in the 9 games.

Rangers defenseman tallied 3 goals in a game for the first time since Feb. 16, 2015 at the Islanders and 2 goals in a period for the first time since Feb. 27, 2016 at Dallas.

Alain Vigneault earned his 620th career win as an NHL head coach, tying Bryan Murray for 12th place on the league’s all-time wins list.

The Panthers are 1-3-1 in their last five home games, and have allowed 20 goals in their last three games.

KNIGHTY-KNIGHT

The Vegas Golden Knights matched the NHL record for fewest games to earn nine wins by a team in its inaugural season.

The Golden Knights are the first team to have three goaltenders earn their first career win in a season since the Islanders in 2010-11.

Stamkos, Killorn, Rangers' Hayes fined $5K for unsportsmanlike conduct

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Steven Stamkosand Alex Killorn as well as New York Rangers forward Kevin Hayes have each been fined $5,000 by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct during Thursday's game.

The incident was initiated by Hayes who sprayed Killorn with water from the Rangers' bench before a faceoff. Killorn reacted by jabbing Hayes with his stick a couple times. Stamkos also got involved after Killorn was given a slashing minor by spraying water in the direction of the Rangers' bench. 

The incident, which occurred three minutes into the third period, also sparked a fight betweenSteven Kampfer of the Rangers and Lightning forward J.T. Brown.

Florida Gov. Scott: Irma is the 'most catastrophic storm the state has ever seen'

Florida’s governor is issuing urgent warnings to a third of his state’s residents to evacuate ahead of a massive hurricane on track to be the state’s most catastrophic ever.

Florida governor Rick Scott said: “This is the most catastrophic storm the state has ever seen."

Scott says the entire west coast of Florida will likely see dangerous affects from storm surge as Hurricane Irma comes ashore Sunday. About 6.3 million of the state’s approximately 21 million residents have been asked to evacuate.

During a Saturday news conference, he told those in evacuation zones: “You need to leave — not tonight, not in an hour, right now”

He says the storm is “going to go faster than you are.”

Scott said 25,000 people in Florida have already lost electricity as Irma’s outer bands have begun hitting the southern part of the state.

The governor also warned of dangerous storm surge of between 6 feet (2 meters) and 12 feet (4 meters) across parts of Florida.

He said: “This will cover your house."

The Latest: Florida orders all schools, colleges closed

MIAMI (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Irma preparations in Florida (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ordering the closing of all schools, colleges and universities throughout the state.

Scott announced late Thursday that all schools, as well as state offices, would be closed Friday through Monday.

Many school districts and universities had already voluntarily agreed to close due to the looming arrival of Hurricane Irma over the weekend. But many school districts and colleges in north central and northwest Florida had remained open.

In a brief statement, Scott said he ordered all schools to shut down so that the buildings could be used potentially as shelters or as staging grounds for relief efforts.

He said Floridians are "facing a life-threatening storm" and "every family must prepare to evacuate.

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8:45 p.m.

Florida officials want residents to evacuate the area directly south of Lake Okeechobee as Hurricane Irma approaches.

Gov. Rick Scott released a statement Thursday ordering an immediate voluntary evacuation for cities surrounding the southern half of the lake from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties. Mandatory evacuations will be put in place beginning Friday morning.

The statement said Scott made the decision after discussing the Herbert Hoover Dike with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Jason Kirk told Scott the structural integrity of the dike would not be compromised, but excessive could wind push some water over the dike.

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5:30 p.m.

Florida's head of the Department of Corrections said that nearly 5,000 inmates are being moved due to Hurricane Irma.

Secretary Julie Jones says 2,000 inmates from South Florida prisons were transferred to other facilities on Wednesday, and nearly 3,000 from central Florida were being moved on Thursday. Jones added that prisoners and officers are being taken care of and remain safe.

Jones says this has been the largest transfer of prisoners due to a storm. She says extensive damage contingency plans are already in place.

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5:20 p.m.

The three major amusement parks in Orlando, Florida, are all operating under normal conditions as Hurricane Irma threatens the entire state.

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World said Thursday morning they are monitoring the movement of Irma, but at this point have made no plans to shut down their parks or alter the normal hours of operations. Some special events have been canceled.

The storm is projected to reach the southern part of the state Saturday and some tracking models have the Category 5 Hurricane reaching central Florida on Monday.

Each park has refund or rescheduling policies in place for park visitors who may not feel comfortable visiting Orlando this weekend. The parks have their individual policies posted on their respective websites.

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1:35 p.m.

Immigrant rights groups are urging the government not to inquire about anyone's immigration status at shelters that have opened in advance of Hurricane Irma.

The Florida Immigrant Coalition urged Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday to issue a statement saying the state welcomes people into shelters without checking IDs. Advocacy groups say immigrants are fearful after a Central Florida sheriff posted a Twitter message saying that officers will be checking IDs to keep sex offenders away from families.

The coalition said in a statement that this "is not a moment to incite fear in the hearts of our communities."

The American Civil Liberties Union's Florida chapter also weighed in, saying Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd "should be working to prepare his community, not burnishing his Joe Arpaio-style 'tough cop' credentials with a series of irresponsible tweets."

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said officials there won't be asking for identification.

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1:20 p.m.

NASA secured Kennedy Space Center on Thursday for potentially catastrophic wind and rain, as SpaceX squeezed out a rocket launch in advance of Hurricane Irma.

Kennedy was closing its doors to all nonessential staff, effective Friday. A crew of about 120 people will ride out the storm on site.

Most of the critical buildings at Kennedy are designed to withstand gusts of 125 mph to 135 mph. Irma's wind could exceed if — and when — it reaches Cape Canaveral.

Workers rushed to cover the Orion capsule scheduled to launch in two years on a brand new NASA rocket, the Space Launch System, or SLS. Pieces of the rocket were stashed away in other buildings.

As NASA stacked sandbags at doorways and other entrances, SpaceX managed to launch an unmanned Falcon rocket from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A, once used by Apollo moon rockets and space shuttles. Aboard the Falcon was an Air Force minishuttle taking off on another long experimental flight in orbit.

Even before Thursday morning's liftoff, Kennedy seemed quieter than usual. After the Falcon soared, the parking lots were even emptier. About 9,000 people work at Kennedy, most of them contractors.

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12:55 p.m.

In Pinellas County officials announced a mandatory evacuation of everyone living in low-lying areas.

Evacuation zone "A'' cover the county's Gulf Coast and the people living along the bayside as well. It also includes people living in mobile homes, regardless of the location. The decision was announced Thursday.

Close to a million people live in Pinellas County, many along the waterfront if the peninsula surrounded by water on three sides that's about 250 miles (402.32 kilometers) northwest of Miami.

Also, in neighboring Pasco County, officials announced Thursday that five shelters are opening.

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12:15 p.m.

Gov. Rick Scott is urging all gas stations in Florida to stay open as long as possible to accommodate people who are trying to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma.

The governor said during a Thursday news conference that the state will send in police escorts to get gas station employees out safely if necessary before the storm arrives.

He says authorities are already escorting fuel tankers to get them through traffic and to gas stations as quickly as possible.

Scott says all of the state's ports are still operating, bringing in fuel and supplies.

He urged residents to take only as much gas as they need to make sure there is enough for everyone who needs it.

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10:45 a.m.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott maintains that the state is doing everything it can to deal with fuel shortages and traffic jams so people can evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma.

Scott on Thursday acknowledged that the current situation is "frustrating" for Floridians, but he said the state is working with federal authorities and other states to move as much gas into the state.

This includes having the Florida Highway Patrol escort fuel trucks.

Beth Frady, a spokeswoman for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said that during the night troopers helped escort trucks from two Florida ports to stations in Marion and Martin counties.

Troopers were also escorting trucks from Georgia to stations in Perry, which is located in north central Florida.

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9:50 a.m.

American Airlines is preparing to shut down operations across Florida as Hurricane Irma approaches.

Officials said in a news release that the airline will cease operations at its Miami hub as well as in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers on Friday afternoon.

The final flight to leave Miami International Airport is scheduled to take off for Dallas at 3:49 p.m. Friday.

Operations will cease at Orlando International Airport at 2 p.m. on Saturday and airline officials said they will continue to monitor conditions at other airports in Florida.

Resumption of service will depend upon airport and roadway conditions and the ability of crew members to get to work.

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8:45 a.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol says troopers are monitoring the high volume of traffic heading north on Florida's Turnpike as people evacuate South Florida.

In a news release, the highway patrol said extra troopers, road rangers and wreckers will be on the roadways to help drivers whose vehicles have become disabled.

The agency says disabled vehicles left on the shoulders of the highways will be towed staring Thursday morning to make it easier for emergency workers who are trying to reach crash victims.

Turnpike officials are also using cameras along the road to monitor conditions.

Anyone needed help can call (asterisk)FHP to get assistance.

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4:22 a.m.

Residents in parts of the Miami metro area are under mandatory orders to leave their homes as Hurricane Irma barrels toward South Florida with potentially catastrophic winds.

Mayors in Miami-Dade and Broward counties issued mandatory evacuation orders starting Thursday morning for barrier islands and low-lying mainland areas in the metro area of 6 million, where forecasters predict the hurricane with winds of 180 mph (290 kph) could strike by early Sunday.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott strongly urges people to evacuate if asked to do so by local officials. The governor also says he expects the state's gas stations to have fuel Thursday, after talking with fuel retailers a day earlier.

Thursday's Scores

All Saints 28, Cornerstone Charter 0

Atlantic Coast 23, Orange Park 13

Avon Park 27, Hardee 20

Baker County 24, Ribault 12

Bartram Trail 49, Clay 28

Belleview 49, Palatka 34

Bishop Kenny 21, Nease 20

Bolles School 34, First Coast 26

Boone 35, Ocoee 13

Bradford 33, Keystone Heights 0

Branford 64, St. John Lutheran 16

Christ's Church 33, Wewahitchka 0

Clearwater Central Catholic 25, Tampa Catholic 0

Columbia 42, Buchholz 7

Creekside 56, Paxon 12

Dr. Phillips 44, West Orange 24

East Ridge 63, Leesburg 34

Edgewater 45, Olympia 36

Evans 38, Oak Ridge 35

First Academy-Orlando 33, Orlando Christian 27

Fleming Island 27, Middleburg 6

Fletcher 51, Englewood 0

Fort Meade 46, Mulberry 7

Fort White 49, Santa Fe 0

Frostproof 28, Tenoroc 8

George Jenkins 49, Lake Region 14

Hawthorne 46, P.K. Yonge 20

Hudson 54, Cypress Creek-Wesley Chapel 0

Indian Rocks 32, St. Petersburg Catholic 6

Jones 54, Colonial 7

Lafayette 41, Chiefland 17

Lake Brantley 35, Winter Haven 28

Lake Howell 35, Winter Springs 21

Lake Nona 41, Orlando Freedom 0

Lake Wales 52, Haines City 0

Lake Weir 35, Eustis 20

Lakeland 42, Apopka 35

Lyman 24, Lake Minneola 20

Menendez 48, Yulee 35

Mitchell 56, Ridgewood 6

Oak Hall 41, Bronson 7

Ocala Forest 48, Mount Dora 39

Ocala Vanguard 45, North Marion 0

Oviedo 48, Hagerty 27

Port St. Joe 35, Bay 20

R.E. Lee 35, Mandarin 20

Raines 28, Ed White 7

Ridgeview 51, Westside 36

Sandalwood 38, Leon 12

Sarasota 34, Booker 14

Sarasota Riverview 11, Palmetto 10

Sebring 30, Bartow 7

Seffner Christian 42, Bishop McLaughlin 9

South Lake 43, Crystal River 6

Stanton College Prep 50, Andrew Jackson 12

Tavares 47, Umatilla 44

Timber Creek 17, East River 7

Trenton 34, South Sumter 14

Trinity Christian-Jacksonville def. Terry Parker, forfeit

Union County 29, Interlachen 21

Wesley Chapel 42, Pasco 12

West Nassau County 13, Providence 0

West Port 41, Citrus 7

Wildwood 42, First Academy-Leesburg 0

Williston 28, Seven Rivers Christian 14

Winter Park 10, Wekiva 6

Wiregrass Ranch 14, Sunlake 9

Wolfson 34, North Florida Educational Instutitute 20

Zephyrhills Christian 46, Bradenton Christian 6

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Braddock vs. Champagnat Catholic, ccd.

Charlotte vs. Venice, ccd.

Everglades vs. McArthur, ccd.

Fivay vs. Weeki Wachee, ccd.

Fort Pierce Westwood vs. Jupiter, ccd.

Foundation Academy vs. Carrollwood Day, ppd.

Land O'Lakes vs. Hernando, ccd.

Lemon Bay vs. Port Charlotte, ccd.

Miami Beach vs. Coral Reef Senior, ccd.

Miami Palmetto vs. Miami Ferguson, ccd.

Miami Springs vs. Reagan/Doral, ccd.

North Miami Beach vs. Belen Jesuit, ccd.

Royal Palm Beach vs. Oxbridge Academy, ccd.

Seabreeze vs. Flagler Palm Coast, ppd.

Spruce Creek vs. Matanzas, ppd.

St. Lucie Centennial vs. Sebastian River, ccd.

Vero Beach vs. Miami Krop, ccd.

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.

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.

Adrianza, Escobar propel Twins past Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Minnesota Twins needed contributions from the top and bottom of the order to avoid a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field.

Ehire Adrianza hit a three-run homer and Eduardo Escobar was 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lift the Twins to a 10-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon.

The Twins (72-67) climbed back into a tie with the Los Angeles Angels for the American League's second wild-card spot by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to break a 6-6 tie.

"Every time we'd pull ahead, they'd get right back to even," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It's frustrating, and a little bit of a test to see how you can persevere through a game like that after you've lost a few in a row. We stayed after it and some guys stepped up big late in the game."

Tampa Bay (70-71) received home runs from Evan Longoria, Lucas Duda and Kevin Kiermaier but made a crucial defensive mistake late in the game.

Minnesota took a 7-6 lead in the seventh on a throwing error by Rays reliever Steve Cishek that allowed Brian Dozier to score from first base. After Dozier walked, Jorge Polanco laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Cishek fired the ball past first baseman Duda and into the right field bullpen. Polanco ended up on third with the two-base error.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish off a series," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We won a series, which was important. I liked the way the guys competed. We get down, they came back, we get down again and they come back again. Frustrating loss just because it got separated there in the seventh."

Escobar made it 8-6 with a bloop single to right-center that plated Polanco. He would eventually score on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by pinch hitter Max Kepler.

The Twins added an insurance run in the ninth when Escobar had a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Robbie Grossman.

"I think the important thing here is that the offense woke up," Escobar said through a translator. "We didn't hit as well in the first few games. We leave here with a positive mind. Knowing that we won and that the offense woke up again, I think it gives us good momentum to go into Kansas City."

The Rays tied the game at 6 in the fifth on Kiermaier's 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast to right-center.

Dozier led off the game with a home run to left field off Rays starter Blake Snell. Longoria tied it in the bottom of the first with a solo shot off Twins starter Blake Snell.

Adrianza gave the Twins a 4-1 lead in the second with his blast to left. Duda tied the game in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer to dead center.

"Sweeping is hard in the big leagues," Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. said. "We just had so many opportunities to win this ball game and everybody was fighting. We know we gained a game, could've gained three and that would have been an enormous swing."

Minnesota scratched across two runs in the top of the fifth on Escobar's two-run single.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Snell gave up six runs in four-plus innings while Slegers surrendered five runs and walked two in four-plus frames.

"The walks are always something I pride myself on not doing," Slegers said. "When I give up runs like that, I can always look back to the walks as the rally starter for the opposing team."

Taylor Rogers (6-3) struck out two in 1 1/3 innings to get the win. Cishek (3-2) took the loss.

NOTES: Rays RHP Chris Archer played catch again and will start Friday against the Red Sox, according to Rays manager Kevin Cash. The originally scheduled starter, RHP Austin Pruitt, pitched in relief Wednesday. ... Twins OF Miguel Sano did some light running Wednesday in Minnesota and is likely to take batting practice Thursday. ... Rays 1B Logan Morrison (stomach flu) was scratched from the lineup for a second consecutive day but performed pinch hit duties in the ninth. ... Twins 1B/C Joe Mauer entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk, snapping his 14-game hit streak.

Odorizzi, Rays shut down Twins

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jake Odorizzi needed a strong start Tuesday night and the Tampa Bay Rays needed to get back to .500 to keep pace in the wild-card race.

Odorizzi took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and pitched the Rays to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field.

Odorizzi (8-7) retired the first 12 batters he faced and 18 of 19 before Joe Mauer ripped a single that hit second base before going into center field to break up the no-hitter with one out in the seventh.

"Just wasn't meant to be," Odorizzi said of the no-hit bid. "The bases have been there since they created the game so that's just how it happens. (Mauer) has had a lot of hits in his career so you really can't do too much about it."

After 6 2/3 scoreless innings, Odorizzi was pulled for reliever Dan Jennings with the Rays ahead 2-0. The right-handed starter gave up the one hit, struck out six, walked one and threw 90 pitches, 56 for strikes.

"It's nice to see some adjustments are reaping some benefits," Odorizzi said. "I just need to replicate my mentality, everything (in the next start). Hopefully, it keeps snowballing and that's the start that kind of gets me going."

Lucas Duda hit a solo home run and an RBI double to provide the scoring for Tampa Bay (70-70).

In the ninth, Rays closer Alex Colome gave up a solo home run to Twins designated hitter Robbie Grossman to cut the lead in half. The Twins then put runners on first and third with one out, but Eddie Rosario grounded into a double play to end the game.

Colome posted his major-league-high 42nd save of the season.

"That was really exciting there at the end," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Good to see Alex come through. Nothing is easy. He makes it look easy a lot of times and he got challenged tonight. Odorizzi was outstanding. That's probably the highlight of the night as far as seeing him good."

Duda gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when he sent an 0-2 pitch from Twins starter Bartolo Colon into the right field bleachers. It was his 27th home run of the season.

"I tried to go fastball high and outside but obviously I left it in the middle," Colon said. "He took some good swings and he's a good hitter. He's my former teammate so he knows me pretty well."

Duda struck again in the sixth after Evan Longoria reached base on a two-out single, ripping a double down the right field line. Longoria scored to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.

"I've played with Bartolo for a couple years and I kind of know what he does," Duda said. "But he's a veteran and mixes it up. Just try to elevate a pitch and put a good swing on it."

Colon (4-3) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes, striking out five and walking one.

Grossman's eighth home run of the year landed in the Rays' stingray tank.

Minnesota (71-67) has lost four of its past five games.

"(Odorizzi) had his elevated fastball, split and curveball down in the zone," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Obviously we had a tough time figuring it out. It was a well-pitched game on both sides.

"(Colon) had a really good night, I thought. It was one good. Duda stepped up tonight and got a couple of big hits. We made a push at the end but the shift got it. It was a tough loss."

NOTES: The announced attendance was 6,509 -- the smallest home crowd in the Rays' 20-year history. ... Rays 1B/DH Logan Morrison was scratched from the lineup with a stomach flu. ... Twins C Jason Castro started and went 0-for-2. Manager Paul Molitor plans to give him a day off Wednesday. ... Rays RHP Chris Archer (forearm stiffness) played catch and likely will do the same Wednesday. Manager Kevin Cash said he would make a decision on Archer's next start soon.

Nationals' Strasburg dominates Marlins again

(TSX / STATS) -- MIAMI -- Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg extended his overall scoreless streak to 26 innings.

He extended his scoreless streak in matchups against the Miami Marlins to 18 innings.

In short, he's been dominating this year, which is what makes the apparently minor discomfort he suffered in his right calf on Tuesday night such a major concern.

"I've been dealing with that for a little bit," Strasburg said after pitching six scoreless innings to lead Washington to a 2-1 win over Miami on Tuesday night at Marlins Park. "It seems like I lose a lot of fluids.

"It doesn't matter how much I drink, it just goes right through me. IVs have seemed to help me in the past, but they weren't willing to give me one here. ... I've just got to find a way. I went as long as I could."

Strasburg (12-4) did just fine in the time he was out there, allowing six hits and no walks. He struck out eight, lowering his ERA to 2.78. It was just the third time this year Strasburg did not walk a batter. But in those other two games, he struck out only five batters combined.

His career record against Miami is 15-7, including 3-0 this season. Strasburg shut the Marlins out last week, but Miami manager Don Mattingly said his team was improved this time around.

"We didn't get to him, but we had better at-bats," Mattingly said. "We just need to have production at some point, and we weren't able to do that."

Strasburg was supported by Daniel Murphy, who homered for the second straight game Tuesday and nearly had another. Murphy, who went 2-for-4, has 22 homers and 88 RBIs this season.

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 53 homers, did not go deep in this game, finishing 0-for-4. However, he did get his glove above the right-field wall, stealing the aforementioned potential homer from Murphy.

Odrisamer Despaigne (0-3), making just his fourth start of the year, took a tough-luck loss. He allowed five hits, two walks and one run in seven innings, striking out two.

"Hopefully I can stay in the rotation," Despaigne said. "The (Nationals) are a good hitting team, but I located my pitches."

With the win, Washington (84-54) leads the National League East by 17 games over the second-place Marlins (67-71), who have lost eight of their past nine games.

Washington opened the scoring in the second. Adam Lind hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a Jayson Werth groundout and scored on Pedro Severino's RBI single.

Miami put its first runner in scoring position in the seventh on a two-base error by Werth, who dropped a two-out fly ball in right field. But Miguel Rojas, who reached on the play, was stranded when pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki grounded out to second.

Washington went ahead 2-0 when Murphy pulled his homer to right off of reliever Kyle Barraclough.

Sean Doolittle allowed an unearned run in the ninth and picked up his 18th save of the season, including 15 with Washington. Pinch hitter Tyler Moore drove in Marcell Ozuna with a sacrifice fly. But rookie Brian Anderson lined out to end the game.

After it was over, the big topic was Strasburg and his cramping issue.

"He threw the ball great," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "It (cramping) just came up again. I don't know what to make of it."

NOTES: Miami nominated 2B Dee Gordon and Washington nominated 1B Ryan Zimmerman for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, which goes to the major-leaguer who best exemplifies sportsmanship, community involvement and contribution to the team. Each major league team nominates one player, and the winner is announced during the World Series. ... Miami named OF Brian Miller and RHP Max Duval as Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month. Both of them play for Low-A Greensboro. ... Nationals RF Bryce Harper, out since August 12 due to a left leg injury, has yet to begin running. ... The Nationals will throw LHP Gio Gonzalez (13-6, 2.58 ERA) against Marlins LHP Dillon Peters (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in Wednesday's series finale. Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA against Miami this year. Peters tossed seven scoreless innings in his major league debut last week.

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).

Dickerson's bat, Kiermaier's glove lifts Rays past Jays

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Kevin Kiermaier is known as "The Outlaw" to many Tampa Bay Rays fans because of his ability to steal extra-base hits from opponents.

His latest victim -- the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kiermaier made two impressive defensive plays and Corey Dickerson added a late home run to lift the Rays to a 2-0 win against the Blue Jays on Thursday at Tropicana Field.

Kiermaier robbed Steve Pearce and Justin Smoak of potential extra-base hits as the Rays (63-66) closed out their six-game home stand by winning three of the final four games.

Toronto (60-67) has lost five of its last six games.

Despite the low score the game was not a pitcher's duel as Rays' starter Alex Cobb didn't get out of the fifth inning thanks in part to a high-pitch count. Cobb gave up four hits and struck out five but threw 94 pitches (53 strikes) in 4 1/3 innings.

The Rays bullpen, however, came through strong as Steve Cishek, Brad Boxberger, Sergio Romo and Alex Colome combined to give up two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Cishek (2-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning to get the win and Colome struck out two in the ninth for his major-league leading 38th save.

"Really good performance from all of our pitchers," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I thought Alex did a good job of competing. He felt good, which was most important. We needed to manage his workload given that he had 18-19 days off. The bullpen came in and stepped up in a huge way."

Blue Jays starter Tom Koehler did make it through five innings and took the loss (1-6), giving up four hits and one run while striking out seven.

"I felt good, I definitely threw more pitches earlier than I would like to," Koehler said. "After five innings you don't really want to be pushing 100 pitches and you're asking a lot from your bullpen. Early in the game I had a lot of adrenaline, it had been a while since I pitched so there was definitely some excitement. I was able to settle down late and get some quick outs."

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead when it loaded the bases against Koehler in the second inning and Dickerson scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Robertson.

Dickerson made it 2-0 in the eighth inning with a solo home run to straight-away center field off Blue Jays reliever Danny Barnes.

Toronto's best opportunity to score came in the top of the fifth when Miguel Montero and Ryan Goins got on base with no outs. Darwin Barney failed to bunt them over and instead grounded into a fielder's choice that got Montero out at third.

Kiermaier robbed Pearce of an extra-base hit with an amazing running, diving catch in the right-center gap.

"Any time you can take away hits like that, especially in a game like this, where runs are limited, it's huge. It was quite crazy. That's why it can be a game of inches."

The next batter, Donaldson, appeared to hit a two-run double down the left-field line but the Rays challenged the call and it was determined that the ball did not clip the chalk.

"Yeah, that foul ball...they must have better cameras up there," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Because that looked like it caught something. But that's why they have replay."

After Donaldson walked, Justin Smoak hit a bloop to short center field and Kiermaier made another diving catch.

"Kiermaier, unbelievable," Gibbons said. "The first one and then of course to come in and get Smoak's ball the last time. That's what he does. We get the same stuff out of (Kevin) Pillar. Those guys win you games."

NOTES: Blue Jays RHP Tom Koehler hit Rays 2B Brad Miller with a 94-mph fastball between the shoulder blades. Miller, however, jogged to first base and stayed in the game until the fifth inning when he left with a right shoulder contusion). ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons confirmed that RHP Marco Estrada is pitching Saturday against the Twins. ... Gibbons also said RHP Aaron Sanchez is throwing again after having problems with blisters on his finger. .. Rays RHP Jake Faria (left abdominal strain) was scheduled to do soft-toss catch Thursday after being shut down for three days.

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.

Pillar's late homer lifts Jays past Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Hit enough home runs, and even if they are solo shots, they will carry the Toronto Blue Jays to a streak-ending victory.

Toronto hit a season-high six home runs, five of them solo, including Kevin Pillar's shot in the eighth inning that gave the Blue Jays a 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

"It was one of those games with a lot of home runs hit on both sides," Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We got some key outs late that we had to have, especially after they came back and tied it. Big home run from Pillar. Nice win."

The teams combined for nine home runs, matching the most in a Rays game.

Tampa Bay (62-66) came back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the score in the seventh, only to leave the bases loaded and see Toronto (60-66) snap a four-game losing streak.

Tampa Bay reliever Tommy Hunter (2-5) took the loss. Toronto's Ryan Tepera (7-1) picked up the win despite allowing the tying run to score in the seventh. Roberto Osuna secured the final four outs for his 33rd save.

"Tommy's had a tremendous year. You don't run away from somebody that's had as much success in our bullpen as Tommy's had," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Two weeks ago, we were all clamoring that he's the MVP of the bullpen. That hasn't changed in a couple of outings."

Tampa Bay got back in the game by scoring in five straight innings -- two in the third, then a run in each inning from the fourth to the seventh.

The Rays tied the score in the seventh, starting with a walk to Kevin Kiermaier, who stole second and took third on a throwing error by catcher Raffy Lopez.

A second walk put runners at the corners for Evan Longoria, whose infield single deep to shortstop evened the score at 6. The Rays had two on and no outs with their 4-5-6 hitters up, but Tepera got out of the jam. He got two outs, walked the bases loaded and got Wilson Ramos to ground out to third.

Rays starter Austin Pruitt was in trouble from the start, giving up a double off the wall by Steve Pearce, then a two-run homer to Josh Donaldson.

"Looked like the velo (velocity) might have been down a little bit," Cash said. "If we don't keep the ball in the ballpark, we are not going to win."

The Jays followed with three solo home runs in the second -- Ryan Goins hit his sixth, Lopez his first and Pearce his 13th, for a 5-0 lead. Pruitt had as many home runs allowed (four) as outs, and he was done after 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs and seven hits.

The Rays started chipping into the lead in the third as Ramos singled and scored on Kiermaier's two-run homer, his ninth of the season.

Toronto's Justin Smoak countered with a solo shot in fifth -- his 34th of the year -- for a 6-3 lead. Kiermaier answered with his second home run of the night to cut the lead 6-4 in the fifth.

Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman allowed five runs and eight hits (three of them homers) in 5 1/3 innings.

"It was a battle for him tonight -- I don't think his ball was sinking like it normally does," Gibbons said. "It was cutting more, and that's where he ran into trouble."

NOTES: LF Steve Pearce, DH Kendrys Morales and 2B Darwin Barney each had two hits for Toronto. Tampa Bay got three hits from CF Kevin Kiermaier and two apiece from RF Steven Souza Jr., LF Corey Dickerson and C Wilson Ramos. ... The Rays designated INF Trevor Plouffe for assignment and recalled RHP Andrew Kittredge from Triple-A Durham. Kittredge pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief out of the bullpen. Plouffe was batting .178 with two RBIs in 31 games and 73 at-bats with the Rays. The addition of Lucas Duda at the trade deadline lessened the need for help at first base. ... Tampa Bay's announced attendance was 8,264, a season low at Tropicana Field.

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.

Kiermaier helps Rays slay Blue Jays

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays are breaking out of their offensive slump at the right time thanks to the recent return of Kevin Kiermaier.

Kiermaier had two hits, including a two-run triple in the second inning, to help the Rays earn a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

Wilson Ramos had three hits while Lucas Duda and Corey Dickerson had solo home runs as the Rays (62-65) won their second consecutive game. Toronto (59-66) lost its fourth straight.

Chris Archer (9-7) posted the win, giving up three runs (one earned) and striking out 10 in six innings. He yielded four hits and one walk.

"It was really nice for our offense to put up a bunch of runs early," Archer said. "I think that kind of relaxed the rest of the team."

The Blue Jays rallied against the Rays' bullpen but came up short.

Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run in the eighth off Rays reliever Tommy Hunter to make the score 6-4.

Kendrys Morales singled and Steve Pearce doubled off Alex Colome to give Toronto runners at second and third with no outs in the ninth. Miguel Montero hit a sacrifice fly to score Morales but Darwin Barney grounded to first and Ryan Goins lined out to right to leave Pearce stranded at third.

Colome earned his MLB-leading 37th save.

"I was just trying to keep the man on third," Colome said. "Just trying to get a pop up or a ground ball and I did."

Toronto got on the board in the first inning when Norichika Aoki hit the second pitch of the game over the right field wall for his fourth home run of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Tampa Bay tied the score at 1 in the bottom half of the inning on a home run by Lucas Duda -- his 23rd of the season and sixth with the Rays.

Tampa Bay touched up Blue Jays starter Chris Rowley (1-1) for three runs in the second inning. Corey Dickerson hit his 23rd home run -- a solo shot to deep right center.

Ramos followed with a single and Brad Miller drew a walk to put runners on first and second before Kiermaier delivered a triple to right-center to make it 4-1.

Rowley struggled with his control and left the game after giving up four runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.

"That was a tough one," Rowley said. "I was a little bit up in the zone. The Rays did a good job of capitalizing on the pitches that I missed. I was working the corners a little bit and a got behind."

The Blue Jays battled back in the fifth against Archer.

Montero reached base on a dropped third strike, and Ezequiel Carerra followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Ryan Goins singled to score Montero, and Carerra scored on a sacrifice fly by Aoki to cut the deficit to 4-3.

"The guys battled back," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We had a chance to tie it there in the ninth."

Ramos pushed the Rays' lead to 5-3 when his infield single scored Evan Longoria from third base in the fifth. Longoria also had an RBI triple in the sixth.

"It was nice to get some early runs out the gate," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "They hit the home run to lead off the game and we answered right back. We had some better at-bats than we had against Rowley up in Toronto."

NOTES: Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar was ejected in the third inning by plate umpire Chad Fairchild. Pillar was going back to the dugout after grounding out to first and said something to Fairchild. He was ejected immediately and replaced by Ezequiel Carrera. "I didn't get an explanation, he just threw me out," Pillar said. "As I ran by home plate I offered my opinion on what I felt the first pitch of the at bat was. All I said was the first pitch was terrible. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't use any profanity.". ... Rays RHP Matt Andriese (hip) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. ... Blue Jays C Russell Martin (left oblique) has missed nine games and is not close to returning, according to manager John Gibbons. ... Blue Jays RHP Nick Tepesch is off on a three-day paternity leave. He is expected to return Friday.

Two Kissimmee officers fatally shot

KISSIMMEE. Fla. -- Two Florida police officers were fatally shot in a district where the top prosecutor says she is no longer seeking the death penalty.

Sgt. Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter of the Kissimmee Police Department were shot late Friday in the district covered by State Attorney Aramis Ayala.

Ayala announced earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek the death penalty, explaining it’s not a deterrent and it drags on for years for the victims’ relatives.

The announcement came as her office was building a case against Markeith Loyd, who is charged with the fatal shooting of an Orlando Police lieutenant.

Everett Miller is facing a first-degree murder charge for the Kissimmee shootings. He was arrested late Friday.

A spokeswoman for Ayala didn’t respond to an email inquiry seeking comment.

A U.S. congressman from Florida says he plans to ask for a moment of silence on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor two officers who were killed on patrol.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said Saturday that American flags will be flown over the U.S. Capitol to honor Howard and Baxter.

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.

Mariners keep Rays in spiral

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When Nelson Cruz gets hot, it's the kind of record-setting hot that is measured in ridiculous distances.

Cruz launched a 482-foot home run in the ninth inning Friday, the longest ever recorded at Tropicana Field, punctuating the Seattle Mariners' 7-1 win over the slumping Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's great when he gets hot, because they're not just singles, they're doubles and home runs," Seattle manager Scott Servais said after Cruz hit not only his 30th home run of the season but two doubles as well. "The ones he hit in Minnesota last year were pretty far too. He's just seeing the ball really good right now, in a rhythm at the plate. We certainly need him."

A return home did little to slow down Tampa Bay's recent slump.

Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez (5-4) faced the team that traded him away last month and held them to one run on three hits. Seattle (62-61) stayed in the American League wild-card chase while the Rays (60-64) dropped to a season-high four games under .500, having lost 11 of their last 14 overall and eight of their last 10 at home.

"We knew the guy on the mound pretty well," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's done it multiple times for us, and it stings probably a little more when you have it done to you. He was sharp and he was good."

Tampa Bay starter Austin Pruitt (6-4) found himself down 3-0 in a 33-pitch first inning, but helped the bullpen by lasting seven innings. He threw 107 pitches, 77 for strikes. Those strikes too often turned into Mariners hits -- they had 11, four more than Pruitt had allowed in any previous start. That included six doubles, with two each from Cruz and Mike Zunino.

"It's huge," Cruz said of starting a 12-game road trip with a win. "Every time, it starts with the pitching. Erasmo and the bullpen did the job today."

The Rays, blanked five times in their previous eight home games, managed to avoid the shutout, thanks to Lucas Duda's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. They have scored a total of 24 runs in their 3-11 slide, less than two runs per game. Catcher Wilson Ramos had three of Tampa Bay's four hits on Friday.

A day after the Rays left 14 runners on base, they didn't have many opportunities to strand anyone. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out in the second inning, but Adeiny Hechavarria could only pop out to shallow center -- not deep enough to send the runner at third -- and Daniel Robertson popped out to right field to end the inning.

Former Rays pitcher Ramirez, acquired by the Mariners last month, followed with three straight 1-2-3 innings before Kevin Kiermaier doubled to lead off the sixth.

Seattle's bats had no such trouble, however, as they tagged Pruitt for three runs in the first inning. Cruz stroked an RBI double past Rays center fielder Kiermaier -- back for the first time in more than two months. Kyle Seager followed with an RBI groundout and Danny Valencia made it 3-0 with an infield single.

The Mariners added two more runs in the fourth. Ben Gamel walked, Guillermo Heredia doubled and Zunino brought both in with a two-run double for a 5-0 lead.

Gamel added another run in the fifth with an RBI single.

"All that matters is to win ballgames right now, and we didn't, so that's the main storyline tonight," Kiermaier said. "I felt good out there. I felt good in the box, defensively and on the bases."

NOTES: Before the game, the Rays activated OF Kevin Kiermaier from the 60-day disabled list. He'd been sidelined since June 9 with a fractured hip, and the Rays optioned Mallex Smith to Triple-A Durham to make room. ... RHP Matt Andriese, making a rehab start in Class A Charlotte as he recovers from a hip injury, took a comebacker off his ankle in the first inning and left the game. ... Seattle not only came in at 61-61, but is 30-30 since starting the season 31-31. They went into the Rays series with an 8-8-2 record in road series. ... Friday's game kicks off a 14-day, 12-game road trip, Seattle's longest of the season and longest since 2010.

Blue Jays' Rowley soldiers on with career, faces Rays

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(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- Chris Rowley made history Saturday, becoming the first graduate of West Point to pitch in the major leagues.

The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander won the game, holding the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Rowley (1-0, 1.69 ERA) makes his second start Thursday in the finale of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre.

Tampa Bay will start right-hander Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84 ERA).

The Rays showed signs of emerging from an offensive slump when they defeated the Blue Jays 6-4 on Tuesday in the second game of the series.

They reverted to their recent ways Wednesday, though, with a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay needs a win Thursday to escape with a split against its American League East rival.

The Rays stranded nine baserunners Wednesday.

"Tight ballgame," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We had our opportunities but just weren't able to capitalize."

The Rays (60-62) have been held to two or fewer runs eight times over their past 12 games, going 3-9 in that span.

The Blue Jays (58-62) are 9-5 in their past 14 games and have allowed two or fewer runs in five of their past seven contests.

The Rays adjusted their lineup for the Wednesday game, moving Corey Dickerson from the leadoff spot to sixth in the order with Brad Miller batting first.

"Maybe just a change of scenery for both the guys that got flip-flopped will do some good," Cash said. "I like the way that Brad has gotten on base. That helps. And Corey, to be able to drop him down, give him a blow in some of those big pressure situations, might help get him going also."

Miller is not likely to remain in the leadoff spot, but Dickerson is likely to remain lower in the order for a while.

"Giving him some time to get some stuff in order," Cash said.

Miller was 1-for-4 with one RBI on Wednesday while Dickerson was 2-for-4 with a double.

It was Dickerson's first multi-hit game since Aug. 3. In his 10 previous games, he was 4-for-44.

Archer ended a run of 15 consecutive starts in which he had pitched at least six innings when he lasted 5 1/3 frames against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. He allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs while striking out eight in a 3-0 loss.

He will be making his 23rd career start against the Blue Jays.

Archer is 6-4 with a 3.13 career ERA against the Blue Jays, his most frequent opponent. In three starts against Toronto this season, he is 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA. He has made 10 career starts at the Rogers Centre, going 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA.

Rowley allowed five hits and one walk while striking out three against the Pirates.

"Awesome, really, and we've been looking for that," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He looked very confident out there. He had good life on his fastball, good sink to his fastball. Threw some good breaking balls. A debut is never easy, but I thought he did a tremendous job. He ought to feel proud of himself and excited."

Rowley received a standing ovation at Rogers Centre when he was replaced in the sixth inning.

"That was really, really cool," Rowley said. "Having my family here to share it with me, walking off and all those people standing, that was something that was really special for me. I don't think anybody really expects to experience that in their life, but it was pretty special."

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.

Pearce, Stroman lead Blue Jays past Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- Marcus Stroman has been stingy most of this season.

He has held opponents to three or fewer runs in 20 of his 25 starts this season, including the two he allowed in 6 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

"He's got the stuff to get through a lineup three or four times," said Blue Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who took over when manager John Gibbons was ejected in the seventh inning. "He can attack either side of the plate with different pitches. He keeps guys off-balance when he's down in the zone and you know he's working when he gets the ground balls."

Steve Pearce hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays (58-62), who have won two of the first three games of the four-game series. The Rays (60-62) will try for the split Thursday afternoon.

Stroman (11-6) allowed six hits and three walks while striking out seven.

"Stroman is tough." Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We knew that coming in. He's having a good year. He keeps the ball on the ground. He's a very tough guy to get anything up in the air. We just weren't able to piece together big enough innings."

Roberto Osuna pitched around a leadoff single by Mallex Smith in the ninth for his 31st save of the season.

A key play was made by shortstop Darwin Barney, who moved from second base to shortstop when Ryan Goins was injured in the sixth. He made a diving stop on a grounder by Adeiny Hechavarria up the middle. He flipped to second baseman Rob Refsnyder to get the force out.

"That was a huge play by Darwin Barney," Stroman said.

Rays starter Jake Faria (5-4) allowed six hits, two walks and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He hit a batter and struck out three.

"I don't think Jake was at his best, at his sharpest," Cash said. "Saying that, though, he pitched a pretty good ballgame. We didn't really help."

Pearce, who homered in the fourth, led off the bottom of the sixth with a double that deflected off the glove of left fielder Corey Dickerson. He moved to third on Kevin Pillar's groundout to shortstop, and Dan Jennings replaced Faria.

Goins grounded an RBI single up the middle to give Toronto 3-1 lead.

One batter later, Goins was out trying to advance to second on a ball in the dirt, and left the game after Rays shortstop Daniel Robertson stepped on his left wrist.

Stroman exited in the seventh after loading the bases on a one-out walk to Smith, a single by Jesus Sucre and a walk to Brad Miller.

Aaron Loup replaced Stroman and walked pinch hitter Steven Souza Jr. to force in a run and cut the lead to 3-2.

Gibbons was ejected for arguing the calls as he brought in Dominic Leone to replace Loup. Leone ended the inning by putting a called third strike past Evan Longoria and inducing a popup to second from Logan Morrison.

"You can't say enough good things about (Leone)," catcher Raffy Lopez said. "He just comes right at you with a hard fastball, his stuff is just so good it's hard to hit. He comes at you, he's not scared."

Toronto's Ryan Tepera pitched a perfect top of the eighth.

Jose Bautista lined an RBI double to right-center field in the third inning to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. Lopez, who had walked with one out, scored the run. After Bautista's hit, Faria hit Josh Donaldson with a pitch before retiring Justin Smoak on a popup to third and striking out Kendrys Morales.

Pearce led off the bottom of the fourth with a first-pitch homer to right to make the score 2-0.

Tampa Bay got a run back in the fifth. Smith led off with a double, took third on groundout to second by Sucre and scored on a groundout to second by Miller.

NOTES: Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was ejected for the fifth time this season. ... INF Ryan Goins will be re-evaluated Thursday, but bench coach DeMarlo Hale said his injured left wrist showed no fractures. ... C Miguel Montero (right groin strain) was activated from the 10-day disabled list, and RHP Dominic Leone was activated from the bereavement list. LHP J.P. Howell and C Mike Ohlman were designated for assignment to make room for them on the roster. ... Tampa Bay RF Steven Souza Jr. did not start to give him a break from the artificial turf at the Rogers Centre. He entered as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk. ... Blue Jays RHP Chris Rowley (1-0, 1.69 ERA) will make his second career major league start Thursday afternoon in the series finale when he faces Rays RHP Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84).

Rays hope to build on breakout game vs. Jays

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(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- After a prolonged team slump, the Tampa Bay Rays suddenly were hitting again Tuesday in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

They produced 13 hits, and they hope the offense continues into the third game of a four-game series Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.

The Rays had scored only 12 runs in their previous 10 games, eight of them losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Toronto on Monday.

"It was outstanding to get some runs on the board," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "The guys felt really good. I think there was a genuine feel like a little bit of relief. They know what they've gone through, and they haven't changed the way they've gone about it.

"I think I was most impressed at the looseness we had throughout the game. The hope is it gets us going, for sure. There's a lot of smiles, a lot of cheering going right now. That's important. ... We're all aware of what we've gone through over the last 10 games."

The teams are 7-7 in the season series.

The Rays will start right-hander Jake Faria (5-3, 3.19 ERA) Wednesday against Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (10-6, 3.00).

In ending their four-game losing streak Tuesday, the Rays managed their biggest hit total since they had 14 knocks against the Texas Rangers on July 15. They had not scored six runs since Aug. 1 against the Houston Astros.

Tampa Bay once again had success against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada, who allowed 10 hits and six runs. He is 0-4 with a 10.61 ERA against the Rays this season and is 0-7 with a 7.75 ERA in his past eight starts against them.

"Just one of those teams that has my number, I haven't been able then figure them out," Estrada said. "I felt OK today and thought I did make some decent pitches, and next thing you know, I'm down six runs."

The Rays figure to have a more difficult time with Stroman.

Stroman is 3-2 with a 1.94 ERA over his past nine starts overall. He took his first loss since July 3 on Friday when he allowed four unearned runs in eight innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with his defense betraying him. The damage was done in a four-run third inning when the Blue Jays committed two errors.

"I just did my best job to battle," Stroman said after the game. "The defense has had my back all year. They've made unbelievable plays for me all year. I felt like I should have done a better job in that situation of buckling down and getting my team out of that. Just a tough inning, but my stuff felt great."

Stroman will be trying for his second win of the season against Tampa Bay. He is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season and is 4-4 with a 4.17 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Faria will try for his second win in two starts against the Blue Jays. His only previous appearance against Toronto Jays came June 13 when he allowed six hits, one walk and one run while striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings in his second career start.

It was the second of three straight starts in which he had pitched six innings or longer and allowed one or no runs to begin his career.

Faria gave up a career-high five runs Friday against the Cleveland Indians, the second time in 12 career starts that he allowed more than three runs.