Javier Sanoja collected three hits, including two RBI singles, to power the Miami Marlins to an 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Thursday's series finale at loanDepot park. The win secured a four-game split after the Reds took the first two games. Reds center fielder Dane Myers made a highlight-reel catch to rob Jakob Marsee but couldn't prevent the loss.
Miami -- Sanoja, fresh off helping Venezuela upset the United States in the World Baseball Classic final, raised his batting average to .406 with his performance. He has a hit in six of his eight starts this season, including multiple multi-hit and multi-RBI games. In the fourth inning, with Miami leading 1-0, Owen Caissie hit a two-run double and Sanoja followed with an RBI single to right field. He added another RBI single in the sixth to score Caissie again, providing support for starter Max Meyer, who pitched five innings and allowed one earned run. Manager Clayton McCullough praised Sanoja's contact ability and versatility across five positions this season, including center field in this game. “He's just good,” McCullough said. “This is probably when he's at his best. He's slashing those line drives all over the place. The contact ability has always been something that he's had. It's a real superpower of his. Versus right, versus left, I trust the at-bat Javy's going to get. Love the times when you have runners [on] third and less than two outs, [because] you feel really good that the ball is going to move forward and you have a chance for good things to happen. His ability to play all over the field and as good a player as he is, it makes it easy. I don't worry as much with him, the right, left. He gets so many opportunities, whether starting or coming into games, because of just the versatility and the skill level.” Sanoja credited the World Baseball Classic for boosting his confidence via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “I think there's belief. There's no coincidence of experience, right? You’ve got to continue getting that experience from that World Baseball Classic that has been helping me a lot, and just continue working really hard. I think that's something that really helped me, the World Baseball Classic, that got me a little loose with a lot of confidence now to start the season.” Meanwhile, Myers robbed leadoff hitter Marsee of at least a double with a leaping catch against the wall on a 105.6 mph line drive. He later dove for a ball off Xavier Edwards but missed, allowing Edwards to reach third and score on an infield chopper from Agustín Ramírez for Miami's first run. Myers hurt his fingers chasing another fly ball but stayed in and singled in the ninth. “Great catch,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. Sal Stewart hit a solo home run in the fifth for Cincinnati's only run. Outfielder Griffin Conine exited with left hamstring discomfort after a diving attempt. The Reds went 5-2 on their road trip.
