MIAMI — The good on Wednesday: The Miami Marlins capped their nine-game homestand on a high note Wednesday with a 6-1 win over the Kansas City Royals, securing their second consecutive series sweep.
The potentially worrisome: Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera exited before the start of the sixth inning due to a blister issue on his right hand, a persistent issue for the 25-year-old.
Cabrera threw a pair of warm-up pitches before that sixth inning before manager Skip Schumaker, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and head athletic trainer Lee Meyer came to the mound to check on him. After a brief discussion, Cabrera was taken out of the game. He had already been removed from one game this season due to a blister on May 17 against the Washington Nationals.
He held the Royals to just one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four.
Steven Okert, Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and A.J. Puk pitched four shutout innings out of the bullpen to secure the win.
Jesus Sanchez hit a three-run home run to straightaway center field in the third inning against Royals starter Jordan Lyles. The Marlins tacked on three more runs in the eighth on a Bryan De La Cruz two-run double and Sanchez RBI single.
Double sweeps
The Marlins (35-28) swept both the Royals (18-44) and the Oakland Athletics to cap this three-team homestand after going 1-2 against the San Diego Padres to begin the extended stay at home.
It’s the first time the Marlins swept consecutive series at loanDepot park and first time they swept back-to-back series at home overall since Sept. 12-18, 2008, when they went 3-0 against both the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
It’s the first time the Marlins have swept consecutive series in general since May 17-23, 2019, when they went 3-0 against both the New York Mets at home and Detroit Tigers on the road.
Luis Arraez batting average update
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez logged his 27th multi-hit game by going 2 for 4 against the Royals on Wednesday. He scored both times he was on base.
His season batting average, through 58 games played: .403.
Arraez overall posted a .543 batting average during the Marlins’ nine-game homestand (19 for 35) and had multiple hits in seven of the nine games, including each of the final five.