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)

In the past week, many Americans remained focused on the economy, inflation and how those forces could impact their lives. Trips to the grocery store or gas station are more painful than they were last year, and that is impacting the decisions of both households and businesses.

Here’s a snapshot of prominent economic data and news that occurred over the past week and what it potentially means for you.

America’s employers delivered a surprising 115,000 new jobs last month despite an economic shock from the Iran war.

Hiring was better than the 65,000 forecasters had expected, though it decelerated from the 185,000 jobs created in March. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Healthcare added 37,000 jobs last month and retailers 22,000. However, manufacturers cut 2,000 jobs in April and have shed 66,000 jobs over the past year despite President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies aimed at creating factory jobs.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose again this week, reflecting ongoing bond market volatility as surging oil prices due to the war with Iran heighten inflation worries.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.37% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That’s still down from one year ago, when the rate averaged 6.76%.

This is the second straight weekly increase, bringing the average rate back to where it was four weeks ago.

Weekly U.S. jobless claim applications rose last week but remain at historically low levels despite elevated inflation and other economic headwinds.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending May 2 rose by 10,000 to 200,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 205,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.

The previous week’s new claims figure, which was the fewest since 1969, was revised up by 1,000 to 190,000.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged in March but hiring improved before the full impact of the Iran war hit the economy.

Employers posted 6.87 million jobs in March, compared to 6.92 million in February, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

The job market has been up and down so far this year after a dismal 2025. And the Iran war, which began Feb. 28, has clouded the outlook for the economy and hiring.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that layoffs rose in March. But hiring improved: Employers added 5.55 million gross jobs, the most since February 2024. More Americans also quit their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects.

U.S. stocks rose toward new highs to end the week on promising news in the labor market and also more strong earnings for major U.S. corporations.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% toward an all-time high after a report said U.S. employers added 115,000 more jobs than they cut last month, even though the war with Iran is raising fuel costs and uncertainty for everyone.

While hiring slowed from March’s level, it was nevertheless nearly double what economists expected. And it kept the S&P 500 on track for a sixth straight winning week, which would be its longest such streak since 2024. The U.S. stock market has blasted higher since late March, in part on hopes that the war will not mean a worst-case scenario for the global economy and that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to allow oil tankers to deliver crude from the Persian Gulf again.

Trader Edward McCarthy, left, and Michael Milano work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

FILE - The per-gallon price is displayed elecronically over the grades of gasoline available at a Buc-ee's convenience stop Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Johnstown, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

FILE - Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store, in Vernon Hills, Ill., Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)