Latos’ struggles continue
Starting pitcher hits wall in sixth inning, allows four runs.
MIAMI — Mat Latos has been there before — and he’s tired of it.
The Marlins righthander started slow Thursday, allowing two runs in the first two innings but appeared to recover. Then, after retiring 10 of 11 Arizona batters, the sixth inning happened.
The Diamondbacks scored four runs and went on to a 7-6 victory to sweep the four-game series.
“I got my slider back, then got away from it, and all hell breaks loose,” Latos said. “The story of my life, it seems like — I can’t put together pitches.”
Latos (1-4), who did not factor in the decision, failed to complete six innings for the sixth time in nine starts. Four of the five hitters he faced in the sixth reached and all four scored. Latos was tagged with six runs in 5 1/3 innings, pushing his ERA to 6.12.
“Starting pitching sets the tone,” manager Dan Jennings said. “He struggled a little bit to get the breaking ball consistently over, and the one inning he looked like he ran out of gas.”
Latos was replaced by Steve Cishek, who continues to recover in his quest to return to the closer’s role.
Cishek allowed two hits in 1 2/3 innings, one of those a two-out single in the sixth that drove in the final run charged to Latos.
Make it seven steals
The Diamondbacks were credited with anoth- er stolen base in Wednesday’s 6-1 victory, giving them a club-record seven and establishing the mark for the most steals allowed by the Marlins in a game.
The additional steal went to David Peralta, who appeared to have been picked off first base by David Phelps but got into a rundown, allowing A. J. Pollack to scoot home from third.
Pollack was credited with a steal of home, but Peralta was not credited was a stolen base after winding up at second. The league changed the ruling Thursday and gave Peralta the steal.
Pollack had a career-high three stolen bases in the game and became the first Arizona player to swipe second, third and home in the same game. Peralta, Aaron Hill, Nick Ahmed and Tuffy Gosewisch each had one. Four of the stolen bases came against Phelps, while three came against reliever Carter Capps.
Jhonatan Solano is the unlucky catcher who is saddled with the stolen bases on his record. Solano has allowed 11 of 12 runners to steal.
Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said Solano was not at fault.
“I don’t think he had anything to do with it,” Hale told reporters following the game. “He’s is a good catcher. It was mostly off the pitcher.”
Miami had allowed six steals in a game three times previously, once in a 14-inning game.
The Marlins were better at holding runners on during Thursday’s game, as the Diamondbacks had just one steal.