Rookie Adrian Del Castillo on Monday hit his first career grand slam and drove in six runs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 9-6.
The Miami native homered for the third time since he was brought up from the minors on Aug. 6. Del Castillo, who played 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.
“Just trying to keep having fun with these guys and have to keep winning for sure,” Del Castillo said.
Photo: Sam Navarro-USA Today
Del Castillo is the third major league catcher to record at least six RBIs and a stolen base in a single game, joining Jerry Grote in 1981 and Johnny Bench in 1974, according to STATS.
Joc Pederson and Jake McCarthy also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who are a major league-best 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.
“Our stuff wasn’t as sharp as we expected,” Pfaadt said. “We got through it and got the team win. That’s all you can really ask for.”
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 upper-deck stands in right field. Del Castillo then drove a 3-1 fastball over the wall in center for a 4-0 lead.
“That’s usually not a good thing — home run foul — they say strikeout comes after that,” Del Castillo said. “Definitely was not trying to strike out there. Just adjust my sights and thinking bigger part of the field on the next pitches.”
The Diamondbacks loaded the bases without a hit after Oller (0-1) plunked McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and then walked Pavin Smith.
Del Castillo said he lost count of the amount of his family and friends in attendance, but there was a noticeable ovation after his drive.
“He had an army of people here supporting him,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We were with him in celebration. We needed every bit of his offensive support tonight.”
Nick Fortes homered in the third inning 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 threat.
Del Castillo singled home two more runs for Arizona in the seventh inning and McCarthy added a two-run shot in the eighth.
“We’re about creating traffic, giving ourselves opportunities and having the right people in the right spot coming up and slug,” Lovullo said.
Oller gave up five runs and three hits in 4-2/3 innings. The 29-year-old Oller walked four, hit two batters and struck out two on his Marlins debut.
“Oller has good stuff, good breaking ball,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “They only got three hits off him, but when you give up six free passes, that will cost you at the big league level.”
Elsewhere, the Mets edged the Orioles 4-3, the Rangers pipped the Pirates 4-3, the Reds beat the Blue Jays 6-3, the Astros overcame the Red Sox 5-4 and the Royals downed the Angels 5-3.
The Dodgers sank the Mariners 3-0, the Padres tamed the Twins 5-3, the Athletics routed the Rays 3-0 and the Giants defeated the White Sox 5-3.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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