Otto Lopez had three hits and an RBI as the Miami Marlins used a balanced offensive attack and shutdown relief to beat the reeling Texas Rangers 4-2 on Sunday in the finale of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas.
The victory was the sixth straight and the 10th in 11 games for the Marlins (76-80) and finalized their second consecutive series sweep.
Miami could have a huge say in the National League postseason stretch run with a road series against the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies (who are in the running for MLB’s best record) and a season-ending three-game home set against the New York Mets, who are tied for the final NL wild-card spot.
Texas (79-77) loss its seventh in a row and is five games behind the Houston Astros in the race for the final American League wild-card spot. Texas has six games remaining.
The Marlins outhit Texas 11-5, with Graham Pauley adding a triple and a single and eight players producing hits. Miami did not draw a walk.
The Rangers threatened in the first off Miami starter Eury Perez when Wyatt Langford walked with one out and moved to third on a ground-rule double by Alejandro Osuna. But Perez, who struck out nine over four scoreless innings, got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.
Miami went up 2-0 in the fourth off Rangers starter Merrill Kelly (12-9) as Xavier Edwards singled, stole second and third and trotted home on a double by Lopez. Lopez crossed the plate when Heriberto Hernandez singled with two outs.
The Marlins padded their lead in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Jakob Marsee and Agustin Ramirez.
Texas got on the board in the sixth on Langford’s solo home run off Lake Bachar (8-2), the second of five Marlins pitchers. After Bachar got two outs, Josh Jung singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored when Cody Freeman singled to left field to cut the Rangers’ deficit to 3-2.
Miami answered in the seventh as Pauley tripled off Cole Winn and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Brian Navarreto, building the lead back to two.
The Marlins’ George Soriano fanned one in a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the season.
