Marlins at Rays
Derek Dietrich looks to punish the team that drafted him for the second straight night as his Miami Marlins attempt to clinch the Citrus Series on Saturday when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays. Dietrich, who was picked in the second round in 2010 by the Rays before being traded to Miami for Yunel Escobar, homered twice and knocked in four runs Friday before the Marlins held on for a 6-5 victory - their third in four ties in the six-game season series.
Miami owns six wins in its last eight games overall and can clinch a third straight series victory against a team that started the set with a winning record Saturday, while it tries to even the all-time Sunshine State matchup with the Rays at 56-56. Rookie Pablo Lopez makes his fourth career start when he takes the mound for the Marlins in the second game of the series while reliever Ryne Stanek will pitch the first inning or two for Tampa Bay. The Rays rallied to score four in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, but left the tying run at second base for their fourth loss in the last five contests. Kevin Kiermaier (left foot discomfort) left Friday’s game and Matt Duffy (back) was scratched from the lineup, but both are considered day-to-day moving forward, while teammate Adeiny Hechavarria takes a seven-game hit streak into the weekend.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (1-1, 6.35 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-2, 2.08)
Lopez struggled in his last two starts after a strong major league debut on June 30 against the New York Mets when he allowed two runs over six innings. The 22-year-old Venezuelan native gave up 10 runs on 11 hits and five walks across 11 innings combined in his last two outings with nine strikeouts. Lopez, acquired from Seattle in the David Phelps deal, was 2-3 with a 1.44 ERA in 12 starts at Triple-A and Double-A combined this year.
Stanek opened 12 games this season for the Rays, permitting three runs on nine hits and seven walks across 18 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts. The 26-year-old Kansas native, who was picked 29th by the Rays in the 2013 draft, gave up one run over two innings in his last start Saturday at Minnesota and owns a 2.89 ERA in July after pitching 15 2/3 scoreless innings during June. Stanek gave up one run in two innings of relief against Miami early this month.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay OF Mallex Smith ripped a three-run triple in the ninth inning Friday and is 7-for-10 with five runs in his last three games.
2. Miami 2B Starlin Castro is 10-for-18 with a pair of walks and three runs scored against the Rays this season.
3. The Rays recalled C Adam Moore and designated OF Johnny Field for assignment before Friday’s contest.