The overachieving Miami Marlins have their sights on completing a three-game sweep when they visit the Athletics on Sunday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.
Miami has smacked eight homers and scored 19 runs while winning the first two games. The Marlins are six games above .500 to match their season best.
“Everybody is doing their part, the way we’ve been fighting together is amazing,” said Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who gave up one run in eight innings Saturday to win his seventh consecutive start.
Shortstop Otto Lopez, who was named to his first All-Star Game earlier in the day, went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs during the 7-2 victory. He leads the majors in batting average (.341) and hits (120).
Learning he was an All-Star at Sutter Health Park was surreal to Lopez. He was playing for Triple-A Sacramento early in the 2024 season when he was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants.
The Marlins claimed him off waivers three days later and he’s emerged as a star in his third season with Miami.
“Now I became an All-Star in the same place,” Lopez told reporters. “It’s a good story I would say.”
Kyle Stowers hit two homers Friday and has gone deep three times in the series.
The slumping Athletics have lost 10 of their past 13 games.
Carlos Cortes, Henry Bolte and Josh Kuroda-Grauer each had two hits for the A’s. Kuroda-Grauer is batting .444 (8-for-18) in five games since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
“He’s a baseball player,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay of Kuroda-Grauer. “It’s fun to watch. I think he’s come here with confidence. He’s hit at every level. He continues to take great at-bats, which is a good sign.”
Zack Gelof (hand) came off the injured list and went 1-for-3. Gelof had a career-best 24-game hitting streak end when he was spiked by Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants on June 23, leading to the IL stint.
Both teams had two players named to the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
The Athletics feature American League starters in catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz. The latter was elevated to starter when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) of the Toronto Blue Jays said he’s pulling out of the game.
It will mark the first time since 1991 – outfielders Rickey Henderson and Dave Henderson – that the A’s have two starters.
It is the first All-Star experience for both Langeliers and Kurtz. Both players have hit 20 homers.
“I think it’s going to be a really cool experience,” Langeliers told reporters. “250 years of the United States in Philadelphia. Just the way that lined up is really cool.”
Langeliers (left thumb contusion) sat out Saturday after being hurt Friday. He will also miss the finale.
Right-hander Max Meyer joined Lopez in earning his first All-Star appearance for the Marlins. Miami has two players on the National League team for the first time since 2023 (infielder Luis Arraez, designated hitter Jorge Soler).
“It’s pretty special,” said Meyer, who’s 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA. “I’m glad that it doesn’t really feel like a personal award, because I have so many staff members that are always pulling for me.”
Right-hander Eury Perez (4-6, 4.21 ERA) will start for Miami. He defeated the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday when he gave up one run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. Perez, 23, defeated the A’s in his lone career outing when he gave up four hits over five scoreless innings of a 12-1 Marlins rout in June 2023.
Rookie left-hander Gage Jump (3-2, 2.93) will start for the Athletics. He’ll try to bounce back from a rough outing in which he gave up five runs and 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings during a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
–Field Level Media
