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.

Stanton is the show in Giants-Marlins series

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(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."

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).

Snell gets rare win as Rays top Jays

(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- The struggling Tampa Bay Rays needed that.

They needed the first win of the season by Blake Snell. They needed the return of a long dormant offense that provided two home runs.

With Snell winning for the first time since Sept. 22, Lucas Duda hitting a two-run homer and Wilson Ramos adding a solo shot, the Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Tuesday night.

"We needed that win," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Looking at all (Snell's) starts, you could probably make the argument that that might have been his best one. I thought his stuff was really good. It was outstanding to get some runs on the board. The guys felt really good."

The Rays had scored only 12 runs in their previous 10 games, losing eight of them.

Snell (1-6) allowed seven hits, one walk and four runs while striking out four in six innings.

"Everyone was hitting well and having good at-bats," Snell said. "It's been tough."

Alex Colome earned his 35th save with a perfect ninth, striking out two.

The Rays (60-61) ended a four-game losing streak as the teams split the first two contests of a four-game series.

Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer for the Blue Jays (57-62), who had a three-game winning string stopped.

Marco Estrada (5-8) allowed six runs, 10 hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three.

He has an ERA of 7.75 and is 0-7 in his past eight starts against Tampa Bay.

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

The Blue Jays scored a run in the second inning when Steve Pearce singled and came home on a double by Kevin Pillar that took a big bounce over right fielder Steven Souza Jr.

Duda hit his 21st homer of the season -- his fourth since joining the Rays in a trade with the New York Mets on June 27 -- two batters after Daniel Robertson singled in the third to put the Rays into a 2-1 lead.

Ramos led off the fourth with his fifth homer of the season, his second of the series. Adeiny Hechavarria blooped a double down the right field line that fell among three fielders and scored on Corey Dickerson's single to give the Rays a 4-1 lead.

Tampa Bay built its lead to 6-1 in the fifth on singles by Logan Morrison, Souza and Ramos, the latter a fly ball that center fielder Pillar lost in the twilight, and bases-loaded walks to Hechavarria and Robertson.

The Blue Jays failed to get the double play on a line drive to second by Mallex Smith. Second baseman Rob Refsnyder flipped to shortstop Darwin Barney, who failed to control the ball, when Morrison appeared to be doubled up at second. At first it was ruled a double play but a video review overturned the call and Morrison was safe.

"I'm upset at myself for letting it get to me," Estrada said. "I know everybody's trying hard, I'm trying hard. Everybody knows that team has given me a hard time and when some of those plays aren't made, it's hard to let it go sometimes. Normally, I don't really think about that stuff, I let it go... today it obviously affected me and I walked the next two guys, walked two guys in. There's no excuse for that."

"I thought he had pretty good stuff tonight," Gibbons said. "But, for whatever reason, it's been a tough matchup. We had a tough inning. We didn't turn two on that ball, the line drive. And Kevin (Pillar) lost (the single) in the twilight, it's a tough sky, it happens. Overall it didn't look good, but his stuff was good."

Matt Dermody replaced Estrada to get the final two outs of the fifth.

The Blue Jays scored three on Donaldson's 18th homer in the bottom of the fifth. The blast also scored Barney, who singled with one out, and Jose Bautista, who followed with a double.

"That's what they do, they work, they grind," Snell said. "You can't shut them out forever."

NOTES: Rays OF Steven Souza Jr. has 25 homers this season, all against right-handed pitchers. He is the first right-handed hitter in the expansion era (starting in 1961) to hit his first 25 homers of the season against right-handers. Souza went 2-for-4 with a double Tuesday. ... Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson hit his ninth first-inning homer of the season Monday. ... Toronto RHP Nick Tepesch earned the win Monday without striking out a batter in six-plus innings. It was the first time a Blue Jays starter had won without a strikeout while pitching at least six innings since RHP R.A. Dickey did it May 14, 2015, against the New York Yankees. ... Rays RHP Jake Faria (5-3, 3.19 ERA) opposes Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (10-6, 3.00) on Wednesday.

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.

Donaldson, Tepesch lead Blue Jays past Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- It has been a long time between major league wins for Nick Tepesch.

Before he pitched six-plus innings to earn the decision in the Toronto Blue Jays' 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Monday night, he had not won since Sept. 16, 2014, when he was with the Texas Rangers.

It came at the right time for the Blue Jays, who have won eight of their past 12 games.

"It's huge for any ballclub when your starter is able to give you some depth and also put up a lot of zeroes," said Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning. "He did a great job of battling all throughout the game, wiggled his way out of some trouble there. I thought it was a huge start for us."

It was the second start for Tepesch with the Blue Jays. He allowed three home runs in taking the loss against the New York Yankees Wednesday.

"I thought his command was a little better tonight," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He stayed on the attack. We got some breaks, we ran some balls down. He hung in there. We had a depleted bullpen tonight."

Tepesch (1-2) allowed only one homer Monday and that was to Wilson Ramos in the second inning, although at least four Tampa Bay outs against him were caught at the warning track.

"We hit some balls really hard, we hit some balls really high," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It looked like we had four or five just-misses."

The Rays (59-61) have lost four in a row.

Tepesch gave up four hits and three walks. The right-hander hit two batters and had no strikeouts as the Blue Jays (57-61) won their third game in a row.

Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings to earn his 30th save of the season.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (6-6) allowed three hits, three walks and two runs while striking out four in six innings.

"After the first inning, everything felt really great," Odorizzi said. "Just something to build on."

Tepesch did not get an out in the seventh, hitting Peter Bourjos with a pitch and walking Daniel Robertson before being replaced by Aaron Loup.

Corey Dickerson's short-hop grounder to second forced Robertson at second. Bourjos, who returned to the bag at second, was declared safe after a video review that took 3:07.

Lucas Duda struck out looking and Evan Longoria hit a bloop to second to end the inning.

"I just felt like I made some better pitches at some critical times," Tepesch said. "I let the one inning get away from me and left Loup in a tough spot at the end but he bailed us out of it and did a great job."

Tampa Bay's Sergio Romo pitched around a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh.

After Loup gave up a walk and struck out two in the top of the eighth, he was replaced by Osuna, who ended the inning on a groundout to shortstop by Ramos.

Tampa Bay's Brad Boxberger allowed a leadoff double to Donaldson and issued an intentional walk in two-thirds of an inning in the bottom of the eighth before Dan Jennings finished the inning.

Toronto led 2-0 in the first inning when Donaldson belted his 17th homer of the season, following Jose Bautista's leadoff walk.

"Just a high fastball," Odorizzi said. "He put enough on it that it was able to get out. I was trying to elevate and he got enough of it. It's a game of inches. If that's a couple of inches shorter, we might have had a 1-0 game."

Ramos cut the lead to 2-1 with two outs in the second when he ended an 0-for-10 drought with his fourth home run of the season.

The Rays loaded the bases in the fourth inning on two walks and a hit batter with two outs. The inning ended when Dickerson flied out to the warning track in right field.

"(Tepesch) really gave us just what we needed and Loup, you can't say enough about the job he came in and did," Gibbons said.

NOTES: Rays RHP Chase Whitley was recalled from Triple-A Durham Monday after the team sent LHP Jose Alvarado down on option on Sunday. ... Toronto LHP Tim Mayza was selected from Triple-A Buffalo Monday, and RHP Leonel Campos was returned to the Bisons on option. RHP Taylor Cole (fractured right toe) was given his unconditional release to clear space on the 40-man roster. ... Toronto RHP Chris Smith cleared waivers Monday and was assigned outright to Buffalo. He had been designated for assignment on Saturday. ... Rays LHP Blake Snell (0-6, 4.69 ERA) will face Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (5-7, 4.85) on Tuesday.

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.

Late Jackson homer pushes Indians over Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays' dreadful homestand is over, with one more tough loss Sunday as Cleveland's Austin Jackson hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to give the Indians a 4-3 win at Tropicana Field.

"Good riddance to the Indians and their pitchers," Rays manager Kevin Cash said after dropping three of four to Cleveland, including two shutouts. "We are sick of seeing them."

The Indians (63-52) saw a 3-1 lead disappear on Steven Souza's two-run home run in the sixth, but Jackson's fourth home run of the season, off reliever Tommy Hunter (2-3), put Cleveland back ahead.

Tampa Bay (59-60) found some offense after five shutouts in the previous eight games, but its bullpen couldn't keep the score tied late.

Corey Kluber (11-3) got the win, striking out nine batters in seven innings of four-hit baseball, continuing a dominant three-game run for Indians pitchers. Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 21st save of the season. The Rays got the tying run to second base with two outs, but Adeiny Hechavarria struck out to end the game.

"It's nice to pick (Kluber) up -- not that he pitched bad, he gave up three," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "When they got that two-run homer, it was nice to see our offense, for two games in a row now, come back and score when he was out of the game. If anybody deserves it, it's him."

Neither team had a hit until the third inning, when the Rays had three, with Evan Longoria's RBI single scoring Jesus Sucre for a 1-0 lead.

Cleveland jumped ahead in the fourth on RBI doubles by Jay Bruce and Carlos Santana for a 2-1 lead, then added a solo home run by Edwin Encarnacion -- his 24th -- to make it 3-1 in the sixth.

"It's great having Bruce behind me," Encarnacion said. "We played for almost a year together (with the Cincinnati Reds), and of course to have a player with the makeup and the quality that he has has been tremendous."

Souza tied the game in the sixth with his 25th home run, off Kluber. The Indians nearly went ahead in the bottom of the seventh, but a perfect throw from Souza in right field off a Francisco Lindor single got home in time to tag Santana out at the plate.

The Rays had come in fresh off the worst eight-game stretch in franchise history, scoring only eight total runs, with five shutout losses within the current homestand.

"We played probably our worst baseball down the stretch and we were in almost every game we played," Souza said. "It's going to turn the corner, we believe it's going to turn the corner. There's still a lot of time left. We're going to be all right."

The Rays now go to Toronto for a four-game series, while the Indians go to Boston on Monday for a single game that was postponed by rain Aug. 2, then to Minnesota for a three-game series to continue an 11-game road trip.

NOTES: The Rays made a roster move after Sunday's game, sending LHP Jose Alvarado from the bullpen to Triple-A Durham, with a corresponding move to be announced later. Alvarado has a 4.76 ERA in 26 relief appearances, holding opponents to a .214 average. ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria, who left Friday's game with a left thumb contusion and sat out Saturday's game, was back in the lineup at third Sunday. He drove in the game's first run in the third inning and scored after a walk in the sixth. ... OF Kevin Kiermaier went 0-for-4 with a run scored on Saturday in his first rehab game with Class A Charlotte. He has missed two months with a hip injury. ... The Indians now have 11 shutouts this season, most in the American League and one behind the Dodgers for the most in the majors.

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.