Del Castillo continues torrid start with grand slam and 6 RBIs as Diamondbacks beat Marlins 9-6
MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Adrian Del Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in six runs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 9-6 on Monday night.
The Miami native homered for the third time since he was brought up from the minors on Aug. 6. Del Castillo, who played collegiately at the University of Miami, also hit a two-run single and had his first career stolen base. He is hitting .333 with 14 RBIs in nine games with Arizona.
Joc Pederson and Jake McCarthy also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who are a major leaguebest 29-13 since July 1 despite getting swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay over the weekend.
Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pfaadt (8-6) struck out four and walked two.
On the second pitch of his at-bat against Adam
Oller in the third inning, Del Castillo hit a drive that curved foul near the upperdeck stands in right field. Del Castillo then drove a 3-1 fastball over the wall in center for a 4-0 lead.
The Diamondbacks loaded the bases without a hit after Oller (0-1) plunked McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and walked Pavin Smith.
Nick Fortes homered in the third for Miami, but Pederson connected for a solo drive in the fifth for his 20th homer.
The Marlins chased Pfaadt on Connor Norby’s RBI fielder’s choice and Kyle Stowers’ run-scoring single that narrowed the deficit to 5-4. Kevin Ginkel relieved Pfaadt and induced a double-play grounder by Fortes, ending the t hreat.
Del Castillo singled home two more runs for Arizona in the seventh, and McCarthy added a two-run shot in the eighth padded the lead.