SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Miami Marlins were hoping get on a roll on the road coming off the most successful homestand in franchise history.
It’s not working out that way.
With Chase Headley hitting a three-run homer in his return to the lineup and Seth Smith driving in four runs, the San Diego Padres soundly beat the Marlins for a second straight game, 9-3 on Saturday night.
Headley, who came off the 15-day disabled list before the game, connected on a 2-2 fastball from Carlos Marmol (0-3) to cap a four-run sixth inning and break the game open with a 6-2 lead.
Smith later added a two-run double in the seventh as the Marlins’ road record dropped to 3-12, worst in the majors.
And Miami is only three games (1-2) into its 11-game road swing, its longest of the season.
“We just got to figure this thing out,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “We’ve got to come out there (Sunday) and find a way to get a big win, whether it is a great pitching performance or a big hit or a few big hits.”
San Diego, which entered averaging a major league-low 2.8 runs per game, was coming off its highest scoring output since Sept. 25, a 10-1 win over Miami on Friday.
The 19 combined runs were the most San Diego scored in consecutive games since Sept. 5-6, 2012.
Smith hit a solo homer, a two-run double and an RBI triple for the Padres, who matched Friday night’s total of 13 hits.
Eric Stults (2-3) allowed two runs on six hits over six innings.
Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Marlins.
With the score tied at 2, Marmol relieved Nathan Eovaldi in the sixth and got two quick outs. But Everth Cabrera reached on an infield bunt, stole second and went to third on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throwing error.
Marmol intentionally walked Smith, who had an RBI triple in the first and hit a solo homer in the third. Jedd Gyorko followed with an RBI single.
Headley, who was hitless in two at-bats with a walk when he pulled Marmol’s 93 mph fastball down the right field line. The ball went just inside the foul pole for his third homer.
Redmond said after the game that the club would be designating Marmol for assignment.
“It’s been a struggle for him,” Redmond said. “We’ve tried to keep getting him in there in different situations and it just hasn’t worked.”
Marmol has an 8.10 ERA, having allowed 12 run on 16 hits over 13 1-3 innings.
“I didn’t work out,” Marmol said. “You got to get people out here. It’s tough. There’s not much to say. I tried my best on the mound and it didn’t work out.”
For the second straight game, the Marlins didn’t get much out of their starting pitcher.
Ace Jose Fernandez did not get an out in the sixth inning Friday night before getting knocked out after Gyorko’s grand slam.
Eovaldi threw 112 pitches Saturday night as he struggled through five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with four walks and only three strikeouts.
“We couldn’t add on any runs and it was a battle out there for Eovaldi,” Redmond said. “He had to throw a lot of pitches and he couldn’t seem to get his off-speed pitches working and he had to throw a lot of fastballs.”
NOTES: Smith has been one of the few Padres who has consistently hit this season. Since May 3, the lefty is batting .577 (15 for 26) with six doubles, three triples, a home run and six RBIs. … The Padres have scored just 10 runs while Stults was in the game in his eight starts. … The Marlins came into the game with an 8-2 record against left-handed starters, tops in the majors. … Padres RHP Hector Ambriz, designated for assignment on Thursday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday. … Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-2, 2.62 ERA) faces Padres LHP Robbie Erlin (1-4, 4.95) in Sunday’s finale.
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