PHOENIX - The Chase Field crowd that had booed Ketel Marte two weeks earlier roared when he kept finding the gap.
Marte doubled twice and drove in three runs Friday night, Corbin Carroll and Nolan Arenado went back-to-back in a five-run sixth, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Texas Rangers 9-1, the Associated Press reported. ESPN's box lists Marte 2-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs, matching the AP line that framed his night.
The three-time All-Star had been booed Aug. 31 in his return from the injured list after missing 13 games following an unexpected no-show in Boston, according to the AP. He apologized for how he handled the episode. On Friday he drew mostly cheers before first pitch, then louder ones after each double as Arizona flipped a 1-0 deficit into a blowout.
Nine unanswered after Pederson's double
Joc Pederson's RBI double in the fifth briefly put Texas ahead. Arizona answered immediately. Ildemaro Vargas doubled in a run, Marte's two-run double made it 3-1, and Gabriel Moreno singled home Marte for a 4-1 lead after four Arizona doubles in the inning, per ESPN's play log. Merrill Kelly had limited the Rangers to that one run through 4 1/3 innings.
The sixth finished it. Marte doubled again to drive in another run, Moreno singled him home, Carroll launched a two-run homer - his 20th, and a fourth straight season with at least 20, the AP noted - and Arenado followed with a solo shot for his 24th. Arizona finished with 11 hits; Texas managed five.
Justin Martinez threw an immaculate inning in the sixth, retiring Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger on nine pitches, the AP said. Kevin Ginkel (6-4) got the win in relief of Kelly. MacKenzie Gore (8-11) took the loss after four innings and four runs, per ESPN's pitching lines.
