Late homers from Soler, Arraez and Bell lift Marlins to series-opening win over Astros

MIAMI — Jorge Soler, Luis Arraez and Josh Bell hit consecutive homers within the eighth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Houston Astros 5-1 on Monday night time.

Houston starter Framber Valdez (9-8) restricted the Marlins to 4 hits and two runs – one earned – by way of 7 2/3 innings earlier than Soler and Arraez related with solo photographs to make it 4-1 and finish the left-hander’s outing.

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“It’s fun because I never hit homers,” Arraez mentioned. “I followed Soler and said it was my time.”

Hector Neris relieved and allowed Bell’s blast over the wall in proper. Bell, who celebrated his thirty first birthday, prolonged his on base streak to 12 video games since he joined the Marlins Aug. 2.

“A lot of smiles, a lot of jumping up and down. It makes you feel like a kid sometimes,” Bell mentioned of the homer outburst. “Sometimes, the game is the hardest thing in the world but when you can do something like that and celebrate as a team, it makes the down side of the game that much easier.”

It was simply the second time in franchise historical past — the primary was in 1998 — the Marlins hit three consecutive dwelling runs.

“Those are really nice, especially against a team like that,” Marlins supervisor Skip Schumaker mentioned. “That offence, there were a lot of loud outs today, so I was totally OK with adding some insurance runs late.”

Arraez went hitless in his first three at-bats and his main league-leading batting common dropped to .366, whereas Soler returned to the lineup after lacking the final two video games due to a abdomen virus.

“The body was a little weak but I’m feeling better now,” Soler mentioned.

Marlins starter Braxton Garrett (7-3) threw 5 scoreless innings and was lifted after 75 pitches. The left-hander gave up 4 hits, walked two and struck out one.

The Astros stranded 10 runners and have been 2-for-12 with runners in scoring place. Garrett escaped a bases loaded one-out jam within the second by hanging out Jake Myers and retiring Martin Maldonado on a come out.

“That was a huge blow for us to come away with nothing,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned. “But we hit the ball great. Line drive after line drive. Just wasn’t our night.”

Consecutive doubles from Nick Fortes and Jon Berti within the third gave Miami an early lead. Berti stole third and scored on catcher Martin Maldonado’s handed ball to make it 2-0.

The Astros narrowed the deficit on José Altuve’s RBI double within the seventh. Jeremy Péna hit a leadoff single off Jorge López and superior on the reliever’s wild pitch. Tanner Scott relieved López after two outs and allowed Altuve’s shot to the left subject wall.

Scott obtained the three outs within the eighth round two singles earlier than David Robertson pitched the ninth.

Altuve completed with three hits and a stroll. Earlier Monday, Altuve was named AL Player of the Week.

REACQUANTANCES

Miami’s Yuli Gurriel went hitless in three at-bats towards his former crew. The 39-year-old Gurriel spent the primary seven seasons of his profession with the Astros earlier than signing a free agent cope with the Marlins this season.

ATTENDANCE DROP

After crowds exceeding 30,000 for every of the Marlins’ three dwelling video games towards the New York Yankees over the weekend, the turnout for Monday’s collection opener was 13,263.

ROSTER MOVE

The Marlins positioned RHP Huascar Brazoban (left hamstring pressure) on the 15-day injured record and recalled RHP Bryan Hoeing from Triple-A Jacksonville.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Peña was tended to by an Astros coach when he landed laborious after a diving stab of Gurriel’s laborious grounder within the seventh. The shortstop stayed within the recreation and Baker mentioned later he “had the wind knocked out of him” … 1B José Abreu (lumbar backbone irritation) mentioned earlier than the sport that if he continues progressing together with his restoration, he targets a return in the course of the membership’s dwelling collection towards Seattle this weekend.

Marlins: JT Chargois (proper rib cage pressure) threw a 25-pitch bullpen Sunday and is scheduled to throw one other one on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

RHP Christian Javier (8-2, 4.36) will begin the center recreation of the collection for the Astros on Tuesday. The Marlins will go together with RHP Johnny Cueto (0-3, 5.33).