 limited Miami to an unearned run in seven innings and benefited from excellent defense. Bud Norris, who tweaked his right knee and left Friday's game after throwing only three pitches, gave up a homer to Marcell Ozuna in the ninth. Cameron Maybin put the Angels ahead to stay in the third when he tripled and scored on Andrelton Simmons' groundout. Maybin also singled, stole two bases and scored three times. Simmons had an RBI double and was robbed of a homer by left fielder Ozuna. Luis Valbuena hit a two-run single. Trout struck out twice but also reached on an infield single, raising his average to .342. Los Angeles improved to 26-26. The Marlins were trying for their first two-game winning streak since April 23 but instead fell to 7-15 at home, worst in the majors. Vance Worley (0-2), pitching his second game of the year, allowed two hits and two runs and likely earned another start. Miami scored in the first when shortstop Simmons threw the ball into the stands on a two-out grounder with a runner on. SUZUKI'S WOESIchiro Suzuki grounded out pinch-hitting for Miami with two on to end the seventh. He is 4 for 29 (.138) as a pinch hitter and is hitting .148 overall in 61 at-bats. DEFENSEThe Marlins loaded the bases with two out in the fifth, but catcher Martin Maldonado picked Dee Gordon off first base to end the threat. Gordon was initially ruled safe before the call was reversed by a replay review. ... Maldonado scrambled to field Christian Colon's topper, then spun and threw him out, and Simmons went deep in the hole to field Giancarlo Stanton's grounder and throw him out. ROSTER MOVEBefore the game, the Angels reinstated RHP Mike Morin (neck) from the disabled list and optioned RHP Daniel Wright to Triple-A Salt Lake. TRAINER'S ROOMAngels: Maldonado, who hurt his thumb on a tag at the plate Friday but stayed in the game, was back in the lineup after X-rays were negative. ... Maybin (right knee) was back in the lineup after missing one start. ... RHP Cam Bedrosian (groin) faced hitters for the first time since going on the DL when he pitched Saturday in extended spring training. He's expected to soon begin a rehab assignment. UP NEXTAngels RHP Matt Shoemaker (4-2, 3.97), who has won his past three starts, is scheduled to pitch in the series finale Sunday against RHP Jose Urena (2-2, 3.08).---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball)
Time: 4:10 PM EDT Venue: Marlins Park, Miami, FL , 33125 MIAMI -- The slumping Miami Marlins, who are 17-29 and have lost 21 of their past 28 games, earned the respect of the Los Angeles Angels in Friday night's opener of a three-game series." They have a pretty deep lineup, especially for the National League," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after the Marlins pounded out an impressive 8-5 win. "We had trouble getting through it." Game two is set for Saturday afternoon at Marlins Park. The Angels will send right-hander JC Ramirez (4-3, 3.81 ERA) out to face an unusual Miami lineup that features slugger Giancarlo Stanton batting second. Ramirez, who will be making his 12th appearance and ninth start of the season, has only faced the Marlins once in his career. But that was a whole different animal. It was back in 2013, when Ramirez was a reliever for the Philadelphia Phillies, and he fired two scoreless innings against Miami. On Saturday, Ramirez will face a Marlins lineup that is suddenly clicking. Stanton was only moved to No. 2 in the order on Tuesday -- a desperation move by Miami manager Don Mattingly. On Friday, though, it worked as Dee Gordon, Stanton and Christian Yelich -- the first three batters in the reworked lineup -- each had three hits. Each of those three batters had one extra-base hit as well. The 4-5-6 hitters also did well as Marcell Ozuna had two RBIs, Justin Bour hit a three-run homer, and JT Realmuto hit a solo shot. Stanton, who had been batting fourth, seems fine with the move up the batting order." It's a little adjustment," Stanton said. "I've got to get ready to hit sooner in the first inning. But I also know I'm going to batting in the first inning 100 percent." At the end of the day, it's just two spots (up), but I think it will pay dividends in the late innings and in close games. There are some innings where I get cut off when I'm fourth." Stanton said it is too early to tell if he is getting better pitches to hit batting behind Gordon. But Stanton said his main concern is to move Gordon once the Marlins' leadoff batter gets on base." If he gets a good jump (on a steal attempt), see if it is a good ball to hit," Stanton said. "I did my job (on Friday). I've just got to make sure I move him over. That's all I'm worried about." I want to get a pitch I can drive. If it bloops over an infielder, and Dee scores, that's good, too." While the Angels wrestle with Miami's batting order, they will also try to get to Vance Worley (0-1, 6.75 ERA), who made his Marlins debut last week in a 6-3 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Signed as a free agent by the Marlins on April 4, Worley did not impress against the Dodgers, allowing three runs in four innings. This will be Worley's first career start against the Angels. Ramirez may have a slight edge over Worley due to recent history. Ramirez is 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his past six starts.
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