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SAN FRANCISCO -- Baseball is cyclical.
During one stretch, a player might struggle through a slump and see hard contact go for an out. The next week, a blooper may drop.
Miami Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia snapped a 0-for-26 slide -- the longest of his career -- Friday night with a 4-for-5 performance. It began with a sharp liner to right with two outs in the second.
"You just go at it and grind through it," Saltalamacchia said. "There's nothing you can do. You just have to remember you can't control what happens after you swing. A lot of guys try to make things happen, and at times I was too.
"Thankfully, being the catcher I have to focus on that and not the hitting side so much. From a sanity part of it, that was helpful."
Saltalamacchia became the second switch hitter this season to record two hits from each side of the plate in the same game and just the second Marlin in club history to do so.
Prior to his hitless skid, Saltalamacchia had at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. Over that stretch, he recorded three multi-hit games, four homers and seven RBI.
"That's baseball. It sucks. You talk to guys about it," Saltalamacchia said. "It's frustrating because you can be locked in like no other and then you have an off day or go on the road and it's like you never picked the bat up in your life. It's something unexplainable to try and contain and get through."
TRANSFER RULE
Manager Mike Redmond as well as major league administrative coach Pat Shine continue to work replay challenge magic this season, improving to 7 for 8 in Friday's key situation.
Giancarlo Stanton dropped the ball on his catch of Hunter Pence's fly ball in the fifth with a runner at second when he tried transferring it to his throwing hand.
First-base umpire and crew chief Gary Cederstrom initially ruled it a drop. The call was overturned after a 2-minute, 11-second delay upon replay review.
Though Angel Pagan, the runner at second, advanced to third on the play and scored on Buster Posey's sacrifice fly, the inning could've turned out differently for the Marlins. Miami led 5-4 and went on to win 7-5.
"Honestly last night I knew when we challenged the play I thought we were right, but you don't really know," Redmond said. "We felt like he caught it and we were on top of it, but we didn't real know until we challenged it. At the time it was a big play momentum-wise, so it was worth it to me."
Earlier in the season, the Marlins were on the right side of the transfer rule that stated there would be no out recorded if the ball dropped. Major League Baseball changed it a few weeks ago.
"We benefited twice from the old rule and once with the new rule," Redmond joked. "As long as you stay on top of the rules, you're in business."
BULLPEN SOCKS
Members of the Marlins bullpen sported crazy high socks under their uniform pants during Saturday's batting practice.
With FOX Sports Florida's Allison Williams, A.J. Ramos visited various San Francisco sites, including Fisherman's Wharf, where he bought pairs for all the relievers.
Ramos thought of it as a "bullpen bonding thing."
Mike Dunn, who took part in FOX Sports' Spring Training to the Troops, got camouflage. Kevin Slowey and Brad Hand, the bullpen's long relievers and catching partners, received Batman and Robin ones, respectively.
Randy Wolf had Captain America. The 15-year veteran has played for seven clubs in his career. Carter Capps rocked My Little Pony since "it kind of irritates him because he's always in the weight room."
Closer Steve Cishek is a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan, so Ramos found Leonardo -- the "most calm one." Ramos, in turn, bought himself Michelangelo because the reliever is goofy and likes pizza.
WORTH NOTING
-- According to STATS LLC, Christian Yelich became the second-youngest Marlin (22 years, 162 days) to record a leadoff home run with his blast Friday. Hanley Ramirez knocked his first leadoff homer on April 18, 2006, against the Reds at 22 years, 116 days.
-- Miami outrighted right-handed reliever Henry Rodriguez to Triple-A New Orleans on Saturday. Rodriguez was designated for assignment Wednesday after giving up two runs on two hits and four walks over 2/3 innings on Monday. In his first outing for the Marlins last Sunday, he walked and struck out a batter in a scoreless frame against the Padres.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
