Arizona drops game and series to Miami

MIAMI, Fla. – Caleb Smith endured a bad stretch after a baserunning adventure but recovered to pitch seven innings and help the Miami Marlins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-6 Monday.

Smith laid down a bunt in the second inning and wound up at third base thanks to two errors on the play. The jaunt may have taken a toll, because in the next inning he gave up three hits, including a three-run homer by Ketel Marte.

Smith (7-4) allowed only one other run, struck out nine and retired his final 10 batters.

The left-hander has won his past four decisions for the team with the National League’s worst record.

The Marlins, who won three of four games from Arizona, improved to 109-1 in their past 20 series. They started the year 1-10-3.

The series loss made it more likely that the Diamondbacks (53-54) will be sellers before this week’s trade deadline.

They’re below .500 for the first time since July 5, even though they’ve outscored opponents by 61 runs.

Miami’s Miguel Rojas homered for the third game in a row, increasing his season total to four.

Teammate Brian Anderson added his 15th homer and his second in two games.

Both homers came off Merrill Kelly (7-11), who allowed seven runs in six innings.

He has lost his past five decisions, and his ERA has climbed to 4.52.

Carson Kelly hit his 13th homer for Arizona, which totaled 24 hits in the series.

Still throwing inside

Marlins right-hander Tayron Guerrero hit pinch hitter David Peralta in the right foot with a 90 mph slider in the ninth inning.

Peralta stayed in the game, and there was no repeat of Saturday’s confrontation when both benches cleared after Christian Walker was plunked by Guerrero.