Inciarte extends hit streak to 17 in D-backs’ loss

MIAMI (AP) — A bunt single by Ender Inciarte was one of the few bright spots for the Arizona Diamondbacks in their latest loss.

The rookie center fielder and leadoff man extended the longest hitting streak in the majors to 17 games Sunday in a 10-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.

“I’m not trying to do anything different,” Inciarte said. “I’m just practicing every day and trying to do the same things. Hopefully, I can be more consistent every day.”

Inciarte bunted for a hit and scored in the sixth inning. He added an RBI single in the ninth.

The 17-game streak is the longest ever by a Diamondbacks rookie. He is hitting .320 (24 for 75) during that stretch.

“He’s a smart player and he utilizes his tools very well,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “He plays hard.”

Mark Trumbo and Jake Lamb also drove in runs for the Diamondbacks, now 53-71.

“It was a bad thing that we couldn’t keep them close,” Inciarte said. “We’ve got to be able to give ourselves a chance to in the game.”

Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 32nd homer and drove in four runs for the Marlins.

Stanton has a career-high 88 RBIs, one more than he had in 2011. He went 7 for 14 with four walks and six RBIs in the four-game series against Arizona.

Garrett Jones also homered for the Marlins, who have won five of seven to get back to the .500 mark at 62-62, equaling their victory total for all of last year.

Marcell Ozuna and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each drove in two runs and Christian Yelich had three hits.

Tom Koehler (9-9) pitched six innings, allowing two runs.

Stanton hit a three-run homer and Jones also connected in the first against Josh Collmenter (8-7).

Trumbo and Lamb hit RBI singles in the sixth that pulled Arizona within 5-2.

The Marlins broke open the game by scoring five times in the seventh. Stanton hit an RBI single, Ozuna had a two-run double and Saltalamacchia singled home two runs. Diamondbacks reliever Randall Delgado was charged with five runs and got just one batter out.

This was Miami’s highest-scoring game since an 11-6 win at Tampa Bay on June 5.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Daniel Hudson (Tommy John surgery) threw one scoreless inning on Saturday night in the Arizona League, allowing one hit and striking out one.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Arizona travels to Washington for a four-game series beginning on Monday night. LHP Vidal Nuno (0-3, 3.92) starts against Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (8-5, 2.92).

Marlins: Off Monday, Miami will start RHP Jarred Cosart (1-1, 2.92) at home Tuesday night against Texas RHP Miles Mikolas (1-5, 7.71) to begin a two-game set.

COLLMENTER STRUGGLES

Collmenter also allowed seven hits and walked a batter while striking out four.

“He just didn’t seem to be himself today,” Gibson said. “He told me (in the dugout) he was just a little sluggish and said he wasn’t throwing the ball like he could. We’ll adjust his routine and try to get him freshened up.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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