MIAMI — The Miami Marlins’ offense had already come out in full force by the time Miguel Rojas uncorked his first home run of the season Friday.
The shortstop rounded the bases in the third inning to pad the Marlins’ early lead in their eventual 8-6 win over the Seattle Mariners to begin a three-game series at loanDepot park. The Marlins (11-8) have now won six consecutive games for the first time since July 26-Aug. 7, 2020.
And it was a refreshing sign for Rojas after his early season struggles.
Rojas entered the game with just a .163 batting average — eight hits in 49 at-bats with just two extra-base hits. He also missed three games on the Marlins’ road trip with flu-like symptoms and had a scare on Thursday against the Washington Nationals when a Patrick Corbin pitch hit him in the face while Rojas was trying to square up for a bunt in the seventh inning.
But in the third inning, Rojas sent a first-pitch fastball a projected 384 feet to left field, the ball landing in the seats just above Miami’s bullpen.
It was the latest big hit for a Marlins offense that already had its share of big hits on Friday.
Jorge Soler opened scoring with a two-run home run in the first — a towering shot on a middle-middle fastball from Mariners starter Matt Brash that went a projected 468 feet to left-center field.
The Marlins (11-8) then scored four more runs in the second on a Jacob Stallings infield single with the bases loaded, a Jesus Aguilar RBI single to right field just beyond the extended reach of Seattle first baseman Ty France and a Jesus Sanchez two-out, two-run single up the middle. Two of Miami’s three outs in the inning came on the basepaths, with Rojas thrown out at home on the Aguilar hit and Soler caught stealing for the third out.
Every player in the Marlins’ starting lineup recorded reached base at least once. Aguilar reached three times with a pair of singles and a fourth-inning walk following a 12-pitch plate appearance. Rojas (single, home run), Soler (home run, walk), Avisail Garcia (double, hit by pitch) and Sanchez (single, hit by pitch) all reached base multiple times as well.
On the mound, Elieser Hernandez earned the win after holding the Mariners (11-9) to three runs on five hits and one walk against five strikeouts
All three runs Hernandez gave up came in the second inning, when Luis Torrens hit a two-out double to the wall in left-center field with the bases loaded. Hernandez retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced after the Torrens hit, with no Seattle player getting past first base after giving up the run.
Tanner Scott (one scoreless inning, two strikeouts) and Cody Poteet (two scoreless innings, one strikeout) got the Marlins through the eighth before the Mariners attempted to rally in the ninth.
Three of the four Mariners batters who faced Shawn Armstrong reached base, causing manager Don Mattingly to go to Anthony Bender with runners on second and third, one out and a four-run lead. Both inherited runners scored, but Bender got out of the jam to record his fifth save of the season and keep Miami’s win streak alive.
Up next
The Marlins continue their series with the Mariners on Saturday, with Jesus Luzardo (1-1, 3.77 ERA) matching up against Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.91 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m.
The series ends with the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara (2-0, 1.78) against the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (3-0, 0.40).
