Soler, Rojas HRs help Marlins send Mariners to 3rd straight loss

MIAMI (AP) — Jorge Soler and Miguel Rojas homered and the Miami Marlins won their sixth straight game, beating the Seattle Mariners 8-6 Friday night.

Marlins 8, Mariners 6: Box score

Soler’s homer in the first inning bounced off a column behind the left-center field pavilion and was measured at 468 feet, the third-longest in the major leagues this season.

Want to see a 4️⃣6️⃣8️⃣ft homer? pic.twitter.com/NqSQMZ1yeA

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 29, 2022

Jesús Sánchez’s two-run single with the bases loaded against Mariners starter Matt Brash capped a four-run second inning. Jesús Aguilar and Jacob Stallings also had RBI singles that stretched the Marlins’ lead to 6-3.

Miami increased its lead on Rojas’ two-run homer in the third. A day after getting hit in the jaw with a pitch against Washington, Rojas powered a fastball from Mariners’ reliever Matthew Festa over the wall in left for his first homer of the season.

Marlins starter Elieser Hernández settled down after a difficult second and limited Seattle to three runs over five innings. Hernández (2-1) scattered five hits, struck out five and walked one.

Seattle, which has now lost three straight, rallied with three runs in the ninth on Jarred Kelenic’s one-out RBI double against reliever Shawn Armstrong. Anthony Bender relieved Armstrong and allowed Luis Torrens’ sacrifice fly and Adam Frazier’s run-scoring single before retiring Ty France on a force out for his fifth save.

Brash (1-2) was lifted after two innings. The right-hander allowed six runs, seven hits, struck out three and walked two.

The Mariners quickly erased a two-run deficit on Torrens’ bases clearing double for a 3-2 advantage in the second.

Clear 'em off. pic.twitter.com/TggHipfMt5

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 29, 2022

Mitch Haniger singled to lead off the second in his return from the injured list, but was replaced by pinch runner Abraham Toro because of a right ankle sprain. Haniger missed 11 games after entering COVID protocols and was reactivated Friday.

X-rays on Haniger's ankle were negative but he will get an MRI tomorrow. Haniger told Servais it felt like he fouled a ball off his shin. No word yet on how long he will miss.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) April 30, 2022

ROSTER MOVE

The Mariners designated RHP Matt Koch for assignment. Koch had four relief appearances in his one-month stint with the club.

RARE MIAMI APPEARANCE

Despite 25 years of interleague play, the Mariners’ visits to Miami have been scarce. The current three-game series is Seattle’s first in Miami since 2014, and the only other visit against the NL club was another three-game set in 2005.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (left forearm contusion) threw a bullpen session Friday and is scheduled to make his next start against Houston on Monday.

Marlins: RHP Dylan Floro (right rotator cuff tendinitis) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Saturday at Triple-A Jacksonville.

UP NEXT

LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.91) will start the middle game of the series for the Mariners on Saturday, while the Marlins will go with LHP Jesús Luzardo (1-1, 3.77).

Mariners address frustrating strike calls against rookie Julio Rodríguez