Karns Leads Rays Over Reeling Marlins 8-5
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MIAMI (AP) — Nathan Karns allowed two hits in seven innings for his second career victory and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the reeling Miami Marlins 8-5 Sunday.
Karns (1-1), making his seventh career start, allowed two runs — one earned — and lowered his career ERA from 6.67 to 5.65.
The Marlins, who came into the season with high hopes, went 1-5 on their opening homestand.
They are even having trouble showing up on time. Center fielder Marcell Ozuna was scratched from the lineup as punishment for being late to batting practice.
To make matters worse, Miami reserve third baseman Don Kelly and backup catcher Jeff Mathis suffered similar injuries that forced them from the game. Each broke the ring finger on his right hand.
Miami was the only team in the majors without a home run before Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit one in the ninth.
David DeJesus hadt a three-run homer off Henderson Alvarez (0-2) that helped the Rays build a 7-2 lead. DeJesus, making his first start of the season in left field, prevented a potential big inning when he made a diving backhanded catch with two runners on in the fourth.
For the second game in a row, the Rays' Tim Beckham came off the bench to deliver an extra-base hit, this time a pinch-hit RBI triple in the sixth. He added a run-scoring single in the ninth.
Kevin Kiermaier doubled twice and has seven extra-base hits. He also walked, scored and drove in a run. Catcher Rene Rivera snapped out of an 0-for-17 start with two RBI doubles and a single.
Alvarez allowed four runs in five innings. He fell to 1-6 with a 5.06 ERA in seven career starts against Tampa Bay.
The Marlins' $325 million right fielder, Giancarlo Stanton, went 0 for 4 and dropped his average to .158. There were a few jeers from the crowd of 20,199 when he fouled out in his final at-bat.
Stanton also committed an error that helped the Rays score a run in the first inning, and his indecision with a throw allowed Kiermaier to stretch a hit into a double.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Alex Colome (pneumonia) pitched three scoreless innings in his first rehab start Saturday for Single-A Charlotte. He's scheduled for another start there Thursday. ... OF John Jaso is not swinging a bat yet, but the swelling in his bruised left wrist has gone down.
Marlins: Kelly was hurt fielding a grounder in the second inning. Mathis was hit by a pitch while behind the plate in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-0, 0.00) will start in Toronto's home opener Monday. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his first start Wednesday against Baltimore.
Tampa Bay is 2-10 in opponents' home openers.
Rookie RHP Matt Andriese will make his first career start Tuesday for the Rays, who play their next 22 games against the AL East.
Marlins: RHP Mat Latos (0-1, 94.50), coming off the shortest outing of his career, again faces Atlanta when the Marlins start a 10-game trip Monday. Latos allowed seven runs in two-thirds of an inning Tuesday against the Braves.
"I get redemption," Latos said. "It's always good to get a second chance. Something like that hasn't happened to me before in my six-year career. I made some changes in my mechanics, and it will be good to get past it."
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