Marlins erupt for 10 runs in 6th, sweep Red Sox in 2-game set
MIAMI (AP) -- As J.T. Realmuto walked back to the dugout in the eighth inning after whiffing wildly at a 3-2 pitch, he could afford to laugh.
Despite the strikeout, he had a pretty good day.
The rookie drove in six runs, including five in a franchise record-tying 10-run sixth inning, which helped the Miami Marlins complete a two-game sweep in a series between last-place teams by beating the Boston Red Sox 14-6 on Wednesday.
Realmuto hit an RBI single in the sixth to put the Marlins ahead 5-4, and then hit his first career grand slam later in the inning to make the score 14-4.
"You've got take advantage of these times," Realmuto said, "because when you feel hot, it doesn't last too long."
Boston's David Ortiz drove in three runs with two homers, giving him 25 this season and 491 in his career. It was his 48th multihomer game and second of the year.
The afternoon game drew a crowd of 26,041, with more than half rooting for the Red Sox. Ortiz's first homer drew the biggest cheer of the day.
"It felt like I was playing in the Dominican," he said. "It feels good to feel like you're playing at home."
Realmuto gave the local supporters lots to celebrate when he became the first Marlins player to drive in five runs in an inning. It was the second time the Marlins reached double figures in runs in an inning -- they scored 10 times at Arizona in 2009.
Needing a double in the eighth to hit for the cycle, he struck out.
"I was laughing because on that 3-2 pitch I told myself I'm swinging no matter what," Realmuto said. "Then he throws one way out of the zone. Normally I probably wouldn't have swung at it."
Realmuto's first RBI came on his sixth triple, the most by a rookie catcher since Carlton Fisk of the Red Sox in 1972, according to STATS. The only catcher with more than six RBIs in a game against the Red Sox was Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra in 1957, according to STATS.
"Anytime you can be spoken in the same sentence as those greats, it's huge," Realmuto said. "Obviously we shouldn't use my name in there too often just yet."
Realmuto is batting .255 with seven homers, making him one of the few bright spots in the Marlins' dismal season.
"This guy has a chance to be an All-Star player for a long time," manager Dan Jennings said.
Red Sox manager John Farrell was back in the dugout after he missed Tuesday's game recovering from hernia surgery.
Ichiro Suzuki drove in three runs with a single and a triple for Miami. Suzuki nearly tripped over Ortiz at first base running out a two-run triple in the sixth.
Teammate Dee Gordon drove in two runs with his second homer of the year and a sacrifice bunt. He added an infield single in the sixth, one of the Marlins' 10 hits in the inning off Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryan Cook and Robbie Ross Jr.
Rodriguez (6-5) allowed eight runs in five-plus innings. Rookie Kyle Barraclough (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings for his first major-league victory.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: OF Hanley Ramirez will be examined by a doctor Thursday when the team returns to Boston to determine whether further tests are needed on his sore left foot. ... RHP Clay Buchholz (right elbow strain) received a favorable evaluation Wednesday from Dr. James Andrews and will begin a throwing program. ... RHP Rick Porcello (sore right triceps) is scheduled to make two rehab starts, beginning Saturday for Class-A Lowell.
Marlins: OF Christian Yelich (bruised right knee) was held out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row but was available to play.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox begin a 10-game homestand Friday when Joe Kelly (4-6, 5.96) starts against Seattle's Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.25).
Tom Koehler (8-9, 3.75) will start for the Marlins when they embark on a six-game trip Friday in St. Louis. The Cardinals swept three games at Marlins Park on June 23-25.
