Former Suns & Marlins Wrap: March 10

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Miami Marlins defeated the New York Mets 11-1 at Tradition Field on Monday afternoon.

The Marlins were propelled to the win by a pair of big blasts at the plate from former Jacksonville Suns.

In the seventh inning with Miami leading 3-0, Giancarlo Stanton hit a towering homer to left field for his first round-tripper of the spring that extended Miami's lead to 5-0.

An inning later in the eighth, Derek Dietrich went yard for the first time this spring with a two-run home run to deep right field that put Miami up 8-0.

J.T. Realmuto was among four Marlins that drove in a pair of runs, as he collected a sacrifice fly in the sixth and an RBI groundout in the eighth.

Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick both collected multi-hit games for the Marlins. Yelich went 2-for-3, while Marisnick went 2-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Kyle Jensen came off the bench to replace Yelich, and went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Veteran Reed Johnson went 5-for-5, scoring two runs.

In all, five of the six Marlins pitchers were former Jacksonville pitchers.

Lefty Brad Hand got the start and the win by tossing three scoreless innings. Hand struck out five batters compared to one walk and only gave up three hits. Former Sun and Florida Gator Anthony DeSclafani went the next two innings in scoreless fashion, giving up one hit with two strikeouts.

Justin Nicolino worked a perfect fifth inning, striking out Ruben Tejada. Grant Dayton allowed the lone Mets run in the eighth inning on a Zach Lutz sacrifice fly. Sam Dyson finished the game by working a scoreless ninth, striking out a batter.

Tomorrow the Marlins will face the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at 1:05 p.m. Former Sun lefty Brian Flynn will start for the Marlins against Boston right-hander John Lackey.

For the latest Suns news this offseason, fans are encouraged to visit www.jaxsuns.com and can keep up with the Jacksonville Suns on the club's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media platforms, as well as the "Tales from Bragan Field" blog: www.sunsradio.com.