Marlins cruise behind Morse's bat, brilliant Mat
PHOENIX -- With trade rumors swirling, Mat Latos pitched seven scoreless innings in his first start in more than two weeks to help the Marlins top the D-backs, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Chase Field.
After being scratched from his last start due to a sore left foot, Latos gave up just four hits and struck out seven in his first outing since July 5. Michael Morse homered for the Marlins, who snapped their four-game losing streak.
"Right now I'm wearing a Marlins uniform, so I have to take care of business as a Marlin," Latos said of the looming trade deadline. "This isn't a one-man game, and I owe it to the 24 guys in this clubhouse to put in 110 percent all day every day, until they kick me out of the clubhouse."
• Unfazed by rumors, Latos dominates D-backs
D-backs starter Jeremy Hellickson gave up two runs over seven innings, but suffered his third loss in six starts. The D-backs were shut out for the fifth time this season -- the first time since May 17 -- and lost for the seventh time in eight games.
"Stuff was good, command was pretty good," Hellickson said. "I just made a couple mistakes I can't make when there are guys on like that."
Video: MIA@ARI: Latos fans seven over seven scoreless frames
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Jumping on top: Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto ended Hellickson's run of 13 straight retired batters with a two-out double down the third base line in the fifth. Realmuto then stole third without a throw and scored on Adeiny Hechavarria's single up the middle.
Video: MIA@ARI: Hechavarria breaks deadlock with RBI single
Hung out to dry: The D-backs didn't have much going offensively, but had runners reach third base in consecutive innings. They left runners on second and third to end the fourth when Welington Castillo grounded out. In the fifth, A.J. Pollock was left standing on third when Chris Owings flied out to right.
Video: MIA@ARI: Bour makes tag at first to save a run
On cruise control early: Hellickson gave up a single to the second batter of the game, Martin Prado. But then the D-backs right-hander set down 13 in a row, pitching with a good pace and making quick work of the Marlins in the early innings. That stretch ended with Realmuto's double.
• Hellickson's strong outing results in a tough-luck loss
Video: MIA@ARI: Hellickson strikes out six over seven strong
Padding the lead late: Christian Yelich had two hits and a stolen base, and he provided a valuable insurance run with a two-out bloop single to left in the eighth that brought in Ichiro Suzuki.
Video: MIA@ARI: Yelich singles to add insurance in the 8th
QUOTABLE
"It's very difficult to watch. He's throwing 100 miles an hour almost and jumping at you. It's not easy. I think it's something that the league needs to look at. It's just not fair to the hitters." -- D-backs manager Chip Hale, on Marlins reliever Carter Capps' unconventional delivery
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Latos is 5-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 10 career games against the D-backs and owns a 1.33 ERA at Chase Field.
WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins: Jose Fernandez will look to take another step forward in his comeback from Tommy John surgery in Wednesday's series finale. Fernandez had a 13-inning scoreless streak snapped during his last outing, Friday at the Phillies, but has a 2.37 ERA through three starts.
D-backs: Robbie Ray takes the mound for the D-backs in Wednesday's series finale. Ray (3-4, 2.29) has given up two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts this season, including each of his last two. The D-backs left-hander is pitching against the Marlins for the first time in his career.
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