Javier Sanoja and Owen Casey each hit three-run homers and Joe Mack added a two-run shot as the Miami Marlins defeated the Colorado Rockies 14-3 for their franchise-best 20th win in June.
The Marlins, who have the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball, outscored opponents 133-80 in June, their best calendar month in franchise history. They were also the first MLB team to win 20 games in a month this year.
“Winning 20 games in a month is a tough task, so (this is) a great way to end the month,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough told reporters, according to MLB.com. “Of course we have a lot of work ahead of us, but again, what led to this is continuing to play well in many aspects.”
A strong month propelled the Marlins (46-40) into contention early in the postseason. They will start July tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for third place in the National League.
“The calendar will change, no big deal,” Mack told reporters. “You are where you are, you are where you are. Accepting this by next month will be very important. Obviously we had a great June, but the month is over, so we just need to move on to the next month and just dominate there.”
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Sanoha opened the game in the third inning with a 419-foot shot to left-center field, increasing Miami’s lead to 5-1. The Marlins then rattled off a three-run sixth inning behind RBI singles from Kyle Stowers, Griffin Conine and Xavier Edwards before Mack launched his fifth career homer to right field in the seventh.
Cassie sent his 10th home run of the season 453 feet over the right field wall in the eighth, and Stowers capped the scoring with a double in the ninth. The Marlins set season records in runs and hits.
“Not to say we’re comfortable because that’s not a good thing, but we’re adjusting, we’re having success and really showing what the Marlins can do,” Casey said.
Conine scored the first run of the game with an RBI double in the first, and Leo Jimenez hit a single in the second for a 2-1 lead. Conine finished the game 4-for-5, the first four-hit game of his career.
Eury Perez (4-6) gave up one run on two hits while striking out eight for Miami in 5⅓ innings. Tanner Gordon (0-2) gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out four.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.