ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jose Fernandez struck out 12 in seven innings Thursday and won his sixth straight start for the Miami Marlins, a 9-1 decision over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Fernandez (7-2) struck out eight of the last 10 batters he faced and struck out every hitter in the Rays lineup at least once. The 23-year-old right-hander from Tampa gave up six hits in beating his hometown Rays for the first time in three tries. He finished the game with 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings, highest among major league starters.
Adeiny Hechavarria and Chris Johnson homered for the Marlins, who won three of four in their annual series against the Rays.
Hechavarria's third home run drove in the final two runs of a three-run second inning off Rays starter Drew Smyly. Johnson made it 5-0 with his second homer an inning later, Johnson's first hit in 22 interleague at bats.
Johnson drove in another run with a single in the eighth, one of five straight hits off reliever Ryan Garton in his major league debut.
Marcel Osuna had two hits for Miami, reaching base in his 33rd straight game, one short of the franchise record.
Smyly (2-6) gave up five runs on six hits while striking out four in six innings.
Brandon Guyer homered off Fernandez in the third, his sixth home run and the major league-leading 67th homer for the Rays.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Bryan Morris (herniated lumbar disk) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and RHP Nick Wittgren was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. "Obviously it's serious anytime you start messing with the back," manager Don Mattingly said. "It doesn't feel like a 15-day thing. He's kind of mulling his options." . . . OF Giancarlo Stanton (sore right side) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. . . . OF Christian Yelich (back spasms) could return this weekend.
Rays: 2B Logan Forsythe (left shoulder blade hairline fracture) has resumed taking ground balls. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 14.
BALANCING ACT
Looking to balance his lineup against the left-handed Smyly, Mattingly had SS Hechavarria hit leadoff for the first time this season. CF Marcell Ozuna made his initial appearance this year as the third-spot hitter. DH J.T. Realmuto moved up from his normal seventh spot to fourth.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (3-3) will pitch the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta on Friday night.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-5) will face the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.
