Otto Lopez Shines with 3 Hits and 3 RBIs as Marlins Edge Diamondbacks 9-8 for Fifth Consecutive Victory

PHOENIX — In a thrilling matchup, the Miami Marlins edged out the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 on Friday night. The game saw Kyle Stowers hit a crucial go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning, contributing to Miami’s season-high fifth consecutive win.

Merrill Kelly started strong, striking out six of the first ten batters. However, he faltered, ultimately allowing five runs before being replaced. Otto Lopez was a standout for the Marlins, tallying three hits, including a home run and a double that drove in three runs.

The Marlins showcased impressive offensive skills, boasting a league-leading 215 hits and a .268 batting average this month. They finished the game with 13 hits, marking a streak of five consecutive games with ten or more hits.

Jake McCarthy opened the scoring for Arizona with a walk, a swift steal, and a sacrifice fly from Alek Thomas. Stowers, after his sixth-inning homer, helped Miami extend their lead to 6-4 with a clutch two-out single in the fifth.

Despite a late rally from the Diamondbacks, which included a solo shot from Thomas in the seventh and an RBI single by Pavin Smith in the ninth, Arizona could not complete the comeback. Upcoming, Marlins’ RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-8, 6.69 ERA) is set to pitch against Diamondbacks’ RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-5, 5.49) on Saturday.

The city of Phoenix continues to be a hub for professional sports, housing notable teams across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB. Events like the Fiesta Bowl and the WM Phoenix Open add to the Valley’s reputation as a major sports destination.