Dane Myers drives in career-best 5 RBIs as the Marlins beat slumping Blue Jays 8-1

TORONTO (AP) — Dane Myers hit a three-run homer and finished with a career-high five RBIs, Griffin Conine had three hits and an RBI and the Miami Marlins claimed a series against Toronto for the first time since 2009 with an 8-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Miami’s Jesús Sánchez scored three runs for the second straight game.

Bench coach Luis Urueta managed the Marlins in the next-to-last game of the season after manager Skip Schumaker returned home to California because of a family medical issue.

“I know he was watching,” said Urueta, who will also handle Sunday’s season finale.

Myers was activated off the 60-day injured list Tuesday. He fractured his left ankle when he kicked a door out of frustration after being ejected in a 10-6 loss at Cincinnati on July 13.

“I’m so happy for him, especially what he’s been through the last two months,” Urueta said. “To be able to come here today and do what he did, it’s pretty cool.”

Myers said it was tough being on the sidelines while injured.

“Sitting in the hotel watching the boys play was tough,” he said. “I think the mental rehab was a little bit harder than the physical rehab.”

Xzavion Curry (2-2) allowed one run and two hits in five innings in his first start with Miami, which won its third straight.

“Outstanding job,” Urueta said of Curry. “He attacked the zone, threw strikes.”

Darren McCaughan pitched the final four innings and earned his second save in two chances.

Miami had been winless in its past eight series against Toronto, losing six and splitting two. The Marlins swept a three-game road series against the Blue Jays in June 2009.

Nathan Lukes hit his first career home run for the Blue Jays — a solo shot in the first inning — but Toronto lost for the ninth time in 11 games. The Blue Jays are 7-16 in September.

Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0 for 4 with a strikeout to remain one hit shy of 200. Manager John Schneider said Guerrero might lead off Sunday.

Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez (1-8) wrapped up his rookie season by losing his fifth straight decision.

“It’s not exactly the year that I really wanted,” Rodríguez said through a translator. “I know I can be better than that.”

The 27-year-old right-hander allowed three runs and four hits in five-plus innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Both of Rodríguez’s walks came in the first, and both scored on two-out, RBI hits by Jonah Bride and Conine.

Lukes cut the deficit in half by homering off Curry in the bottom of the inning, but Miami added three more in the sixth. Myers hit a bases-loaded double off the top of the right field wall that chased reliever Brendon Little before Jhonny Pereda added an RBI single off Erik Swanson.

Myers homered off Génesis Cabrera in the eighth, his third of the season.

ROSTER MOVES

Blue Jays: Toronto recalled RHP Nick Robertson from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned LHP Easton Lucas to the Spring Training Complex.

UP NEXT

LHP Ryan Weathers (4-6, 3.81 ERA) is expected to start for Miami in Sunday’s season finale. The Blue Jays had not named a starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette stands in the dugout during baseball game action against the Miami Marlins in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers, right, celebrates next to Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement after hitting a two-run RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts after striking out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins pitcher Darren McCaughan celebrates with catcher Jhonny Pereda after their team's win over the Toronto Blue Jays in interleague MLB baseball action in Toronto, Saturday, September 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers watches his two-run double during sixth-inning baseball game action against the Miami Marlins in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers is tagged out at home plate by Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk during sixth inning interleague MLB baseball action in Toronto, Saturday, September 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins pitcher Darren McCaughan works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers hits a two run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers hits a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodríguez reacts after giving up an RBI double to Miami Marlins' Griffin Conine during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez works against the Miami Marlins during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes hits a home run off Miami Marlins pitcher Xzavion Curry during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Miami Marlins pitcher Xzavion Curry during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins pitcher Xzavion Curry works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer, left, steals second base past Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards, right, during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins pitcher Xzavion Curry works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Marlins' Griffin Conine hits an RBI double off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodríguez during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)