Latos' 11 K's, Stanton's 4 RBIs top Rockies
MIAMI -- Mat Latos made a triumphant return from the disabled list, while Giancarlo Stanton continued to stay hot on Saturday afternoon in the Marlins' 4-1 win over the Rockies at Marlins Park.
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Stanton belted a two-run home run off David Hale and matched his season high with four RBIs, while Latos struck out 11, the most by a Miami starter this season. Latos now has 10 career double-digit strikeout games, with his last coming on Aug. 27, 2014, against the Cubs.
Video: COL@MIA: Stanton makes great grab, drives in four
"Great job today with Latos working with [catcher] Jeff Mathis, who did a great job behind the plate today," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "With Latos coming back, working with Mathis, they were really on the same page all day."
Miami has won the first three in the four-game set, with a chance at the sweep on Sunday.
"Total team effort. Great win," Jennings said. "We'll be back at it tomorrow. But I'm very proud of these men and the way they're going about it, their mindset. They're having fun. The energy is up. I think it shows on the field."
Rockies right-hander David Hale was tagged for four runs, all generated by Stanton, in six innings. Troy Tulowitzki's RBI single in the sixth was the only run the Rockies managed off Latos.
Video: COL@MIA: Tulo drives in LeMahieu with RBI single
For the second time in three games, Stanton posted four RBIs. The slugger did it on Thursday in the series opener, and he has driven in four runs three times this year. Stanton's 23 homers and 59 RBIs are the most in the Majors. His 23 homers also match the third most by a Marlin prior to the All-Star break, which is still a month away.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Stanton's two-run double: One reason Stanton was moved to the cleanup spot was to be in position to potentially bat with more men on base. It worked out that way in the first inning, when with two on, Stanton launched a two-run double off the wall in left-center. Stanton nearly had a three-run homer. According to Statcast™, the drive landed a projected 397 feet away. Stanton now has 45 career RBIs in 37 games against the Rockies. More >
Video: COL@MIA: Stanton opens scoring with a two-run double
Latos returns to form: Making his first start since May 21, Latos turned his his finest outing of the season. He wasn't in trouble often, but in the seventh inning, after Michael McKenry tripled with one out, Latos stranded him when he struck out pinch-hitter Rafael Ynoa to end the threat.
"I just told [Mathis], 'Whatever you're calling, I'm rearing back and throwing. Just get ready,'" Latos said. "We were on the same page for the most part. Executed pitches when we needed to and taking care of business." More >
Video: COL@MIA: Jennings on Latos, Stanton in 4-1 win
Double trouble: Brandon Barnes appeared to notch an infield single on a slow roller to third base with two outs in the second inning. But after the umpires gathered and discussed the play, they ruled that the ball hit Barnes' bat twice, making it a foul ball. So instead of Colorado loading the bases with two outs, Barnes flied out to left field a couple of pitches later to end the inning.
Power outage: The meat of the Rockies' order was given a chance to cut into Colorado's three-run eighth-inning deficit. Charlie Blackmon pinch-hit with one out, and he singled and stole second base. But No. 3 hitter Tulowitzki struck out looking against Sam Dyson before cleanup hitter Carlos Gonzalez went down swinging against Mike Dunn to end any thought of a rally.
"We're getting hits here and there, but nothing's timely and that's tough, especially in this park," said Rockies catcher Michael McKenry, who tripled and walked twice. "This is one of the worst hitter's parks in baseball, in my opinion. It's tough and you just have to kind of grind it out."
Video: COL@MIA: McKenry triples to right-center field
QUOTABLE
"He's on one of those streaks that he can't get out. I don't think he can do much more. It's a pleasure to watch. This is one of the few guys you stop and watch when he comes up to bat. I had to go to the restroom, and I was going to go in, but I was like, 'No, he's coming up to bat.'" -- Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, on Stanton's hot streak
"There's not many [similar]. [Jose] Canseco back in his heyday was similar to that, but yeah, he's pretty impressive." -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss, on Stanton's power
INJURY UPDATES
Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson left the game in the sixth inning after running out his groundout to short. Weiss said Dickerson reaggravated his foot injury, plantar fasciitis, that had the outfielder on the disabled list up until Thursday's series opener. Blackmon replaced Dickerson. More >
Video: COL@MIA: Dickerson exits with an apparent injury
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With his stolen base in the first inning, Dee Gordon increased his season total to 22. Last year, Christian Yelich paced Miami with 21.
Video: COL@MIA: Gordon swipes second base
BARK AT THE PARK
Saturday's theme for the game was Bark at the Park, which allowed fans to bring their dogs to the game. They were also given the option to adopt a dog at the 4th annual #MarlinsAyudan Adopt-O-Mania. There were 118 pet adoptions, which passed the previous high of 107 adoptions in 2012.
Video: COL@MIA: Lorna Mejia on dog adoption program
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa (3-2, 5.53 ERA) takes the hill as he tries to turn things around against the Marlins on Sunday at 11:10 a.m. MT. In 12 appearances vs. Miami, the lefty has a 5.71 ERA.
Marlins: Closing out the four-game series on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. ET is veteran Dan Haren, who makes his 20th career start against Colorado. Haren (6-2, 3.12) has been Miami's most consistent starter. He is 7-9 (5.12) vs. the Rockies.
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