Arizona completes 4-game sweep of Marlins

MIAMI — The Arizona Diamondbacks scored the run that put them ahead to
stay Thursday thanks to a walk, a bobbled bunt and two infield singles.

“It wasn’t very conventional,” manager Chip Hale said.

That’s the way it works when things are going well for a team — or in the case
of the Miami Marlins, not going well.

A.J. Pollock drove in the go-ahead run when he barely beat out a hit with two
out in the eighth inning, and the Diamondbacks completed their first four-game
sweep in seven seasons by defeating the Marlins 7-6.

The fifth four-game road sweep in Diamondbacks history came after they were
swept at Philadelphia last weekend.

“To rebound from the last series really shows our character,” Pollock said.

The Marlins mishandled two sacrifice bunts and fell to 0-7 on their homestand.
Their seven-game losing streak is their longest since they dropped eight
straight in April 2014.

Dan Jennings fell to 0-4 since replacing Mike Redmond as manager.

“They have a new manager, and there’s some excitement for them trying to get
him his first win,” Hale said. “We didn’t let him get it.”

It’s the worst start by a first-time manager in the majors since Tony
DeFrancesco opened 0-4 after taking over the Astros in 2012, according to STATS.
Jennings said his team has been unlucky.

“The effort, the work ethic, everything that needs to be in place to break out
of this is there,” Jennings said. “When it breaks, someone is going to pay.”

Arizona’s Yasmany Tomas had two hits for his sixth consecutive multihit game.
He doubled home a run in the first.

Ender Inciarte added three hits, including a pair of RBI singles. The four-game
sweep was the first for the Diamondbacks since September 2008 against the
Giants.

With the score 6-all in the pivotal eighth, Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto
bobbled Cliff Pennington’s bunt, putting runners at first and second with none
out.

“Plays like that are what our problem is right now,” Realmuto said. “If I
make that play, it probably changes the whole course of the game.”

Pollock then barely beat out a 30-foot dribbler to score the go-ahead run
against Sam Dyson (2-1).

“That’s exactly how I drew it up,” Pollock said jokingly. “Dyson was
throwing hard with a little sink, so I was just trying to swing really hard and
make sure it didn’t go too far, and try to beat it out.”

Andrew Chafin (2-0) pitched 1 1-3 perfect innings, and Brad Ziegler needed only
nine pitches in a perfect ninth for his first save since last June 8. Three
relievers combined to retire the final 10 Marlins batters.

Starter Archie Bradley, making his second start since suffering a right sinus
fracture on a comebacker, allowed four runs in five innings.

Bradley was hit again by a line drive in the second inning, this time in the
backside by Dee Gordon. Bradley waved at the dugout to indicate he was OK.

Miami’s Mat Latos couldn’t hold a two-run lead. He made a costly fielding
mistake, threw two wild pitches and gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings, hiking
his ERA to 6.12.

GOLDY OFF

Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt, who has played in every game, was held
out of the starting lineup but singled as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

“This is more of a mental day off,” Hale said. “To ask a guy to play 162
games today is tough to do.”

ANOTHER STOLEN BASE

An official scoring change awarded David Peralta with a stolen base in the
fifth inning of Wednesday’s game. That gave the Diamondbacks seven steals in the
game, tying the franchise record set May 19, 2000 against the Mets.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Arizona begins a three-game homestand Friday against the Cubs
with RHP Josh Collmenter (3-5, 5.36) scheduled to start. He has a 1.27 ERA in
six career games against the Cubs.

Marlins: Opening day starter Henderson Alvarez (0-3, 6.23) is scheduled to face
the Orioles on Friday. It will be his second start since coming off the disabled
list with elbow and shoulder inflammation. The Orioles are 1-11 in Miami and
will be making their first visit since 2009.