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 leaguesā 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.
āWhen I was a kid yes, but Iāve never had five hits,ā Arraez said.
In addition to going hitless Friday, Arraez had additional motivation. Arraez and his wife, who is expecting the coupleās third child, learned in a gender revealing that they will have their third girl.
āItās emotional and because of that I have to play well,ā Arraez said. āIām going to do everything possible that my girls have beautiful lives.ā
Joey Wendle doubled twice and singled for the Marlins, who finished with 14 hits.
The Aās dropped to a major league-worst 12-48 and lost their 13th straight on the road.
Rookie Eury PĆ©rez threw five scoreless innings of four-hit ball in his fifth major league start. The 20-year-old PĆ©rez (3-1) struck out five and walked one. George Soriano got the last nine outs for his first major league save.
āI feel very confident when I am in the game and the support I get from my teammates also helps a lot,ā PĆ©rez said. āIt gives me a lot of energy to go out on the mound and perform.ā
The Marlins struck early against Oakland starter Luis Medina with a four-run second. Jonathan Davis hit a two-run double and scored on Arraezās single. Jorge Solerās 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 Medinaās outing. Wendle followed with a single against reliever Sam Long to load the bases. Arraezās one-out double to left-center cleared the bases and put Miami ahead 7-0.
āI feel like I keep saying that but itās freaking June already and heās still doing it,ā Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Arraez. āItās surprising I guess because itās already June and heās hitting like .390 but with the work he puts in, itās not surprising because of how relentless he is.ā
Medina (0-5) gave up six runs and six hits, walked four and struck out two.
Arraezās RBI double and De La Cruzās second sacrifice fly in the fifth padded the lead.
Shea Langeliersā RBI single in the eighth put Oakland on the board and snapped an 18-inning scoreless string.
āOffensively, we donāt string hits together consistently,ā Aās manager Mark Kotsay said. āLater 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).ā
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.
āI have the ability to hit. I know what Iām capable of,ā Wendle said. āWhen youāre not hitting well, youāre always looking for that adjustment. Hopefully, today I was able to have it.ā
TRAINERāS 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 AvisaĆl GarcĆa (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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