Diamondbacks stay hot, beat slumping Marlins 4-3

PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte smashed a solo homer to take the lead and closed out the win by starting a nifty double play for the final outs.

That's the guy the Arizona Diamondbacks had in mind when they signed the second baseman to a long-term contract during spring training.

Marte had a big night, Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker each added two hits and the Diamondbacks kept rolling with a 4-3 win over the slumping Miami Marlins on Monday night.

“That's the player I am,” Marte said through an interpreter. “Early on I was trying to do too much, but that's what we've been working on, little by little.”

The Diamondbacks have won six of seven. The Marlins have dropped eight of nine and lead the majors in one-run losses with 10.

Marte broke a 3-all tie in the sixth when he smashed a 438-foot homer into the right-center seats. It's been a tough start to the season for the 2019 All-Star, who came into the game hitting just .206 after signing a $76 million, five-year deal during spring training. The deal keeps him with the team through 2027.

Over the past two weeks, he's looked much better. It's a big reason the D-backs are 10-3 over that span.

Marte also started a double play to end the game, ranging far to his left for a grounder before jumping, turning and firing to Nick Ahmed at second, who relayed to first for the final out.

“I enjoy watching Ketel play — his confidence is unmatched,” Walker said. “That's something that I really try to learn from. He's a great player. It's not a matter of if he'll figure it out, it's a matter of when. We've seen him do it day in and day out. It's good to see him get his swagger back, his confidence back and we can all feed off that.”

Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first in a back-and-forth start to the game. Walker drove a...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Diamondbacks-stay-hot-beat-slumping-Marlins-4-3-17161148.php