Arraez has career-high five hits, five RBIs to lead Marlins past A's
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MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez had a career-high five hits and five RBIs and the Miami Marlins beat the Oakland Athletics 12-1 on Saturday.
The major leagues’ leading hitter, Arraez hit three doubles and two singles to raise his average to .390. A day after going 0 for 4 in the series opener, Arraez also became the first player in franchise history with five hits and five RBIs in a game.
“When I was a kid yes, but I’ve never had five hits,” Arraez said.
In addition to going hitless Friday, Arraez had additional motivation. Arraez and his wife, who is expecting the couple’s third child, learned in a gender revealing that they will have their third girl.
“It’s emotional and because of that I have to play well,” Arraez said. “I’m going to do everything possible that my girls have beautiful lives.”
Joey Wendle doubled twice and singled for the Marlins, who finished with 14 hits.
The A’s dropped to a major league-worst 12-48 and lost their 13th straight on the road.
Rookie Eury Pérez threw five scoreless innings of four-hit ball in his fifth major league start. The 20-year-old Pérez (3-1) struck out five and walked one. George Soriano got the last nine outs for his first major league save.
“I feel very confident when I am in the game and the support I get from my teammates also helps a lot,” Pérez said. “It gives me a lot of energy to go out on the mound and perform.”
The Marlins struck early against Oakland starter Luis Medina with a four-run second. Jonathan Davis hit a two-run double and scored on Arraez’s single. Jorge Soler’s single advanced Arraez to third before Bryan De La Cruz had a sacrifice fly to right.
Consecutive walks to Jean Segura and Nick Fortes in the third ended Medina’s outing. Wendle followed with a single against reliever Sam Long to load the bases. Arraez’s one-out double to left-center cleared the bases and put Miami ahead 7-0.
“I feel like I keep saying that but it’s freaking June already and he’s still doing it,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Arraez. “It’s surprising I guess because it’s already June and he’s hitting like .390 but with the work he puts in, it’s not surprising because of how relentless he is.”
Medina (0-5) gave up six runs and six hits, walked four and struck out two.
Arraez’s RBI double and De La Cruz’s second sacrifice fly in the fifth padded the lead.
Shea Langeliers’ RBI single in the eighth put Oakland on the board and snapped an 18-inning scoreless string.
“Offensively, we don’t string hits together consistently,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “Later in the game, I thought we had better at bats than we did earlier. You focus on those better at bats and prepare for (Sunday).”
With the lopsided lead, the Marlins pinch-hit for Arraez with Garrett Hampson in the eighth.
SLUMP ENDER
Sidelined by an oblique injury that cost him four weeks in April, Wendle has struggled the first two months of the season and began the day hitting .179. Saturday was his first multi-hit game this season.
“I have the ability to hit. I know what I’m capable of,” Wendle said. “When you’re not hitting well, you’re always looking for that adjustment. Hopefully, today I was able to have it.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Kirby Snead (left shoulder strain) showed no discomfort after throwing a live batting practice session in Arizona on Friday and his next step will be joining a minor league affiliate for rehab outings.
Marlins: LHP A.J. Puk (left elbow nerve irritation) threw a scoreless inning in the first of consecutive-day rehab outings with Double-A Pensacola on Friday. ... OF Avisaíl García (left back tightness) experienced a setback during his rehab stint with Triple-A Jacksonville and will return to Miami for re-evaluation.
UP NEXT
RHP Paul Blackburn (0-0, 2.25) will start the series finale for Oakland on Sunday against Miami RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-5, 4.93).
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