MIAMI (AP) — Double plays proved to be costly for the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins grounded into four double plays in a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
“We’re in one of those ruts where we’re having a tough time getting that big hit in big situations,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “Unfortunately tonight we killed our rallies with double plays. That happens sometimes.”
Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks.
“We hit some balls hard with three runs and then they scored two in the first and our pitching shut them down,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said.
Trevor Cahill (3-8) pitched 6 2-3 innings allowing two runs and six hits for the Diamondbacks.
Addison Reed pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 34 chances.
Marlins starter Brad Hand (2-5) allowed three runs in seven innings.
The Marlins threatened in the eighth, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia bounced into an inning-ending double play.
“They hurt us tonight for sure,” said Marlins’ third baseman Casey McGehee, who grounded into two of the four. “It’s going to happen from time to time, but it doesn’t make you feel any better about it.”
All five runs were scored in the first.
“That’s the beauty of the big leagues,” Redmond said. “Both teams come out swinging the bats and then zeroes the rest of the way.”
Arizona jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo home run by Pennington, his first since May 1, 2013 against San Francisco, and a two-run homer by Hill, his 10th of the season.
“I’m going up there just looking for something up,” Hill said. “I typically don’t swing at the first pitch, but it worked out and it ended up being all right.”
The Marlins responded with two runs in the bottom half on RBI singles by Giancarlo Stanton and Garrett Jones.
Diamondbacks rookie Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: LHP Matt Reynolds (Tommy John surgery) threw live batting practice to SS Chris Owings (left shoulder strain) in Scottsdale, Arizona
Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez is expected to rejoin the rotation on Saturday after missing two starts with right shoulder inflammation.
“He threw a bullpen the other day and he looks great,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “…Whatever stillness he had is gone and he’s ready to go.”
ON DECK
Diamondbacks LHP Wade Miley (7-8, 4.61) will oppose Alvarez (8-5, 2.48), who is 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA at home. Miley is 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.
SHOW AND GO
With the Diamondbacks in the middle of a season-long 10-game road trip, which included a pair of long nights in Cleveland, Gibson elected to give his team extra time off before the game. The players were allowed to show up just two hours before game time and did not take batting practice.
“Experience just tells you that it’s something smart to do,” Gibson said. “Mentally it’s a good lift for them to give them a little extra time to chill out and do some other things and not overthink things.”
The plan is the same for Saturday, which excited the players.
“It’s funny, you should have heard the reaction from everybody when (director of team travel) Roger (Riley) yelled it was show and go,” Hill said. “We obviously can’t do it every day, but on a long road trip. It’s funny how a bunch of grown men get excited about the little things.”
POSTGAME MOVE
Marlins RHP Anthony DeSclafani was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Alvarez, who will be reinstated from the disabled list on Saturday.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
