Dane Myers hit a three-run homer and recorded a career-high five RBIs, helping the Miami Marlins defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Saturday. This win allowed the Marlins to take a series against Toronto for the first time since 2009.
Jesús Sánchez from Miami scored three runs for the second game in a row. With manager Skip Schumaker away in California due to a family medical issue, bench coach Luis Urueta took charge of the team for this game and will also manage the season finale on Sunday.
Myers was activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday after breaking his left ankle when he kicked a door in frustration after being ejected during a game on July 13.
“I’m so happy for him, especially what he’s been through the last two months,” Urueta said about Myers.
Myers shared that being injured and watching his teammates from a hotel was difficult. “I think the mental rehab was a little bit harder than the physical rehab,” he said.
Xzavion Curry (2-2) pitched five innings, giving up one run and two hits in his first start for Miami, which has now won three games in a row. “Outstanding job,” Urueta said of Curry. “He attacked the zone, threw strikes.”
Darren McCaughan closed out the game with four scoreless innings, earning his second save in two tries.
Before this win, Miami had not won a series against Toronto in eight attempts, having lost six times and split twice. The last time the Marlins swept a three-game series against the Blue Jays was in June 2009.
For the Blue Jays, Nathan Lukes hit his first major league home run, a solo shot in the first inning. However, Toronto has now lost nine of its last eleven games and is 7-16 in September. Star player Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, remaining one hit short of 200. Manager John Schneider mentioned that Guerrero might bat first on Sunday.
