Giancarlo Stanton's 3 hits help propel Marlins past Rockies
MIAMI (AP) -- With five .300 hitters, the Miami Marlins have been waiting to see what their offense might look like when Giancarlo Stanton starts to hit.
The answer came Saturday. Stanton singled in his first three at-bats to give his lowly average a boost, and Miami totaled 17 hits in a 9-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
J.T. Realmuto homered, doubled and reached twice on infield singles, with his extra-base hits coming in run-scoring innings when Stanton also reached.
"It's huge for our offense," Realmuto said. "We've had some guys who have had some success this season, but he's obviously our anchor. He's the guy who is going to drive in runs for us and give us momentum. It's huge to have him back swinging it the way he can."
On Friday, Stanton drew encouragement from his first multiple-RBI game since May 6.
"Feeling a little better," he said before Saturday's game. "Just got to keep it going."
And he did. Stanton beat the shift with an opposite-field single in the first inning, setting up Miami's first run. He singled and scored in the third and fifth, giving him five hits in the past two games to hike his average from .193 to .210.
The way the ball was flying, it looked like the game was being played in the thin Rocky Mountain air rather than indoors at sea level. Both starters were gone by the third inning, with Colorado's Tyler Chatwood departing because of back spasms.
Realmuto put Miami ahead to stay in the fifth with a three-run drive that caromed off the home-run sculpture in left-center field. Not that he was aiming for the sculpture.
"No, I was actually looking to stay up the middle," he said with a grin. "I pulled it a little bit. But I'll take it."
Justin Bour hit a two-run shot for his 11th homer, and Christian Yelich had a two-run single and hiked his average to .319. Miami (36-32) climbed four games above .500 to match a season high.
"I still don't think we're clicking on all cylinders," Bour said. "We're just scratching the surface of what this team can do."
The Marlins led 3-0, overcame a 6-3 deficit and have won the first two games of the series.
"If you had seen us in batting practice today, you would have thought we had no chance," Realmuto said. "We came in laughing that we were probably going to get no-hit because nobody was hitting. Then we go out and put up 17 hits. It's a funny game."
Chatwood left after 1 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs. He threw 48 pitches, the last of which sailed to the backstop for his third walk.
The back issue came without warning, manager Walt Weiss said.
"It just popped up on him," Weiss said. "We watched him for probably a couple of hitters. Didn't look right. Body language was a little off."
Miami's Wei-Yin Chen quickly gave an early lead away and lasted only 2 1/3 innings in the shortest of start of his career. He departed after seven consecutive batters reached, the last of which was Nick Hundley on a bases-loaded triple that put the Rockies ahead 6-3.
Chen, who joined Miami this season on an $80 million, five-year deal, now has an ERA of 5.22. He also bunted into a 2-5-4 double play and is 0 for 32 in his career.
Colorado managed only one hit off five Miami relievers, and Dustin McGowan (1-2) pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings. A.J. Ramos closed with a perfect ninth for his 30th consecutive save, including 21 this year.
The Marlins bullpen has combined to allow no runs and one hit in 10 innings in the first two games of the series.
Eddie Butler (2-4) replaced Chatwood and was rocked for six runs in 3 1/3 innings.
SUZUKI WATCH
The Marlins' Ichiro Suzuki walked on four pitches as a pinch hitter in the seventh, leaving his career hit total at 2,980.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Christian Bergman (oblique) threw a simulated game Saturday and is getting ready to begin a rehabilitation assignment, Weiss said.
UP NEXT
Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 1.42 ERA) is scheduled to make his second career start Sunday against RHP Tom Koehler (5-6, 4.25 ERA).
