#ASGWorthy Giancarlo fuels win over Halos

May 28th, 2017

MIAMI -- smashed a home run in the first inning and provided the game-changing drive in the fifth as the Marlins rolled to a 9-2 win over the Angels on Sunday at Marlins Park.
The loss had a little extra sting for the Angels because exited with a left thumb sprain in the sixth inning. X-rays were negative for any fracture. Trout jammed his thumb on the bag during his stolen base in the fifth. The perennial All-Star tried to play through, although he repeatedly was checking his hand in the outfield before being replaced.
"It's pretty sore," said Trout, who will have an MRI on Monday. "I'll ice it and see how it feels tomorrow."

Marlins manager Don Mattingly set up his lineup with Riddle leading off as Dee Gordon got the day off, and Stanton continues to bat second. Miami collected two big shots from the top of the order.
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"It's just been a little different feel," Mattingly said of Stanton in the two hole. "He has been swinging the bat good. We have been scoring good there. It's been a good spot for him."
Stanton's homer, another Statcast™ special, was projected at 401 feet with an exit velocity of 106 mph. The launch angle was 33 degrees, providing more lift than the slugger's usual lasers. By taking two of three, the Marlins won their first series since April 21-23 at San Diego (also two of three).

"It seems like a long time," Mattingly said of a series win. "Really, we haven't had many chances to win one. We had one chance in Oakland [a two-game split]. … It's been a long time. It's good to get one, and hopefully it's the start of something."
gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, crushing 's full-count slider to left for a two-run homer. Statcast™ projected the drive to left at 411 feet with an exit velocity of 105 mph.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Knock and a laser: had driven in just three runs before he pulled the Marlins even with his RBI single in the fifth inning. had doubled and advanced to third on 's sacrifice bunt. After Miami tied it at 2, Riddle came up big, crushing Angels starter 's first pitch over the wall in right for a two-run homer, handing the Marlins the lead for good. Riddle was in the leadoff spot for the first time.
"Leading off is a little bit different," Riddle said. "When you get that first at-bat out of the way, it's not that much different. You want to see some balls, see some pitches and go from there." More >

Ichiro's single gives him 363 Interleague hits, one shy of Derek Jeter's Major League record.

Big blast, small splash: Maldonado's two-run homer in the fourth put the Angels in front, but the chance for a big inning faded when lined out to left with the bases loaded. Urena walked four in the frame and threw 42 pitches, but he managed to avoid letting the inning completely slip away. Urena had been in control through the first three frames, totaling 43 total pitches.
"Maldy's having a great year for us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It was a big hit at the time. Unfortunately, we had a little trouble adding on and holding on."
Urena escaped another bases-loaded jam in the third, retiring Trout on a groundout to short. The hard-throwing right-hander used a 97.2-mph fastball to induce the ground ball.
"I was being too fine," Urena said. "The breaking ball was too low, and I was getting out of my tempo. I think that was the key. Nobody wants to get in that situation. You have to put everything in that situation to get a big out."

QUOTABLE
"Just the timing of it. Being down a run, it gets us back even. Obviously, Ich is a guy you like up there. You always feel confident when Ich is up there, no matter what the numbers tell you." -- Mattingly, on Ichiro's game-tying single
"He's so strong. Not trying to take anything away from other people, but he's so strong. It's a fly ball to a bunch of other guys. If you ask him, he'd probably say he missed it and still hit it out. That's how strong he is." -- Shoemaker, on Stanton's homer
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Urena established career highs for strikeouts (seven) and walks (six) during his five-inning start.

WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco takes the mound for the Angels at 6:07 p.m. PT on Monday that will open a three-game series with the Braves as part of a seven-game homestand. In an up-and-down season, Nolasco has lost his last two starts, snapping a two-game win streak.
Marlins: The Marlins open a three-game series with the Phillies at 7:10 p.m. ET on Monday with (0-7, 4.82 ERA) seeking his first win since signing with Miami. (5-2, 4.28 ERA) goes for the Phillies on Memorial Day.
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