Players rest, so Yankees prevail

With the Miami Marlins’ playoff spot clinched, manager Don Mattingly took Saturday’s afternoon game with the New York Yankees as an opportunity to experiment.

He rested regulars Brian Anderson, Corey Dickerson, Jesus Aguilar and Starling Marte. He pulled starting pitcher Trevor Rogers after three innings and took a hard look at his midinning bullpen options.

And the Marlins went toe-totoe with a fully-loaded Yankees lineup for 4 1⁄2 innings before New York pounced and Miami had to play catch-up.

Tyler Wade, Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit hit home runs and presumptive major-league batting champion DJ LeMahieu had four hits, including a tworun double in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh, to trounce the Marlins 11-4 at Yankee Stadium.

Ten of New York’s runs came in the fifth and sixth innings after the Yankees (33-26) fell behind by three runs early. Wade’s two-run homer came on a firstpitch fastball against Ryne Stanek in the fifth. Giancarlo Stanton tied the game as he doubled off James Hoyt to score Aaron Judge, who Stanek walked to end his outing.

Hicks’ two-run home run off Stephen Tarpley in the sixth gave the Yankees their first lead of the series, while LeMahieu’s double into the left-field corner and Voit’s majorsleading 22nd home run (a three-run shot) off Nick Vincent put the game out of reach.

The Marlins (30-29) jumped to a 3-0 lead in the third on a Miguel Rojas double that scored Monte Harrison from first, a Jon Berti single that scored Rojas from third and a Matt Joyce single that scored Berti from second.

Joyce had three hits and two RBIs. Harrison, primarily used as a pinch runner and late-inning defensively replacement over the last two weeks, had the first multi-hit game of his career.

Rogers, the ninth-ranked prospect in the Marlins organization according to MLB Pipeline, threw three scoreless innings, giving up two hits (both to LeMahieu) and a walk with four strikeouts.

Mattingly pulled Rogers early because they intend to have him available out of the bullpen to start their playoff run, which starts Wednesday with the best-of-three wild-card round.

Miami BBWAA award winners

The Miami chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced its 2020 Award winners on Saturday.

First baseman Jesus Aguilar was voted as the Marlins’ Most Valuable Player and Sixto Sanchez the Rookie of the Year.

Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez is the recipient for the Charlie Hough “Good Guy” Award and catcher Francisco Cervelli earned the Jeff Conine “Heart & Professionalism” Award.

COREY SIPKIN/AP The Yankees’ Aaron Hicks hits a two-run homer during the sixth inning Saturday vs. the Marlins.

COREY SIPKIN/AP The Yankees’ Clint Frazier steals second as Miami Marlins shortstop Jazz Chisholm looks for the throw.