Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer steals second base in front of Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards during third inning interleague MLB baseball action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
TORONTO – Dane Myers hit a three-run homer and Xzavion Curry pitched five strong innings to lead the Miami Marlins to an 8-1 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday at Rogers Centre.
Myers also had a two-run double while Griffin Conine chipped in with three of Miami’s 11 hits. Darren McCaughan pitched four shutout innings for his second save.
Nathan Lukes hit his first career home run for the Blue Jays, who were held to four hits on the afternoon.
Miami (61-100) can wrap up a three-game sweep in the regular-season finale Sunday. The Marlins are in the National League East basement while the Blue Jays are last in the American League East.
Toronto (74-87) has lost nine of its last 14 games.
Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remained one hit away from the 200 mark on the season. It’s the highest total for a Blue Jay since Vernon Wells had 215 hits in 2003.
Two first-inning walks proved costly for Toronto starter Yariel Rodriguez (1-8).
Leadoff man Xavier Edwards reached on a free pass and scored on a Jonah Bride single. Jesus Sanchez also walked and came across when Conine doubled.
Lukes scored Toronto’s lone run in the bottom of the frame when he pulled a slider from Curry (2-2) just over the wall near the right-field foul screen.
Rodriguez was in some discomfort in the fourth inning, drawing a visit from manager John Schneider and a trainer. He stayed in the game and retired the next three batters in order.
The right-hander came out in the sixth inning after giving up a leadoff single to Jake Burger.
The Marlins would load the bases against southpaw Brendon Little and added to the lead when Myers missed a grand slam by a few inches.
Burger and Sanchez scored on the double and Conine made it 5-1 after an RBI single from Jhonny Pereda. Lukes delivered a strong throw from left field on the play to get Myers at the plate to end the inning.
Myers iced the victory with his homer in the eighth inning off Genesis Cabrera. His third home run of the year was confirmed after a video review.
Rodriguez gave up three earned runs, four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Curry allowed one earned run and two hits. He issued one walk and had one strikeout.
The retractable roof was closed for the matinee. An announced crowd of 35,733 was in attendance.
The game took two hours 33 minutes to play.
JIMENEZ DAY TO DAY
Blue Jays infielder Leo Jimenez was not available due to right knee inflammation.
An MRI scan confirmed there were no structural concerns, Schneider said before the game.
Jimenez jammed his leg when he landed after catching a liner in a 15-5 loss to Florida on Friday night.
SCHUMAKER AWAY
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is away from the team this weekend. He’s at home in California due to a health issue in the family.
Bench coach Luis (Pipe) Urueta is serving as acting manager.
ROSTER MOVES
Before the game, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Nick Robertson from Triple-A Buffalo.
Left-hander Easton Lucas was optioned to the team’s spring training complex.
COMING UP
The Marlins will send left-hander Ryan Weathers to the mound on Sunday. The Blue Jays did not immediately name a starter.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2024.
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