MIAMI (AP) — Javier Sanoja homered and singled twice, Tyler Zuber earned his first career save and the Miami Marlins held off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Saturday.
Sanoja led off the fifth inning with a 363-foot drive to left field against Shane McClanahan (6-3) to help Miami build a 4-1 lead until the ninth, when the Rays rallied against closer Pete Fairbanks.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz strikes out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Lake Bachar aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan aims a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Esteury Ruiz, talks to Otto Lopez after scoring on a hit by Joe Mack during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Javier Sanoja bunts the ball in the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Ben Williamson drew a leadoff walk and scored with two outs on a wild pitch by Fairbanks to make it 4-2, followed by an RBI single from Yandy Díaz. After loading the bases, Fairbanks exited to a smattering of boos before Zuber entered and struck out Junior Caminero.
The Marlins totaled 10 hits after managing just two in Friday's series-opening loss. Joe Mack hit a run-scoring double, and Otto Lopez singled twice.
Díaz had three of Tampa Bay's five hits.
The Marlins used seven pitchers in a bullpen game. Lake Bachar got the start, striking out three over three perfect innings, and John King picked (3-1) up the win by getting two outs.
McClanahan allowed four runs and eight hits with six strikeouts through five innings for the AL East-leading Rays, who have lost four of five.
Miami's pitchers were perfect through four innings before Richie Palacios reached on a throwing error by Sanoja at third base to start the fifth. Cedric Mullins was hit by a pitch with one out before King got Taylor Walls to ground into a double play.
Sanoja made it 3-0 with an RBI single in the sixth and pinch-hitter Liam Hicks stretched the lead to four with a sacrifice fly.
Victor Mesa Jr. broke up Miami's combined no-hit bid when he led off the sixth with a single against Calvin Faucher, and the Rays spoiled the shutout in the eighth on Díaz's RBI double against Michael Petersen.
The teams finish the series Sunday, with Rays RHP Griffin Jax (1-4, 4.76 ERA) facing RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-4, 4.59).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz strikes out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Lake Bachar aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan aims a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Esteury Ruiz, talks to Otto Lopez after scoring on a hit by Joe Mack during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Javier Sanoja bunts the ball in the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Golden Tempo won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, capturing the third leg of the Triple Crown five weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby and making more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, Golden Tempo charged down the stretch at Saratoga Race Course to win the Belmont, holding off Commandment before the finish line at the historic track to win at odds of 6-1. Commandment was second and favorite Renegade third.
"Golden Tempo is amazing. Jose is amazing," said DeVaux, who was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career there. “I think he needed to do this to kind of show that he was meant to win the Derby and that he is a horse that belongs in that conversation of being one of the top 3-year-olds."
DeVaux, after becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, is the second in four years to do so at the Belmont. Jena Antonucci won it with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux is the first woman to win multiple Triple Crown races.
“It’s overwhelming," DeVaux said. “All the credit goes to Golden Tempo, who won the race and Jose did a wonderful job of making it happen. But I’m just so fortunate to be in this position. It’s history-making, and I’ve kind of shied away from it, but I’m really gracious that I am that person.”
The pace was not nearly as fast as it was at Churchill Downs, yet Golden Tempo still was able to close in time to win the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:03.49. It didn't matter, as he was the best in the field of nine horses.
“He wasn’t going to get that setup as he did in the Derby,” Ortiz said. “We all knew that, and I was a little worried about it. He needed some kind of setup. But today, there wasn’t one and he showed up today and won.”
Golden Tempo won two-thirds of the Triple Crown after DeVaux and owners decided to bypass the Preakness. He is the second horse in as many years to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont after not running in the middle jewel.
“We made our decision, and we won today and we’re going to be happy about that,” DeVaux said.
This was the third and final time for the Belmont at Saratoga in upstate New York while its traditional home on the border of Queens and Long Island is getting demolished and rebuilt. The race is set to return to Belmont Park next year.
“It’s so meaningful," DeVaux said. "A lot of family here. Saratoga, it’s been wonderful to have such a historic race here. ... It’s so meaningful because the town gets to have this and celebrate it along with us.”
Golden Tempo paid $14 to win, $7.32 to place and $3.88 to show. Commandment paid $7.02 to show and $4.08 to place, while Renegade — the Derby runner-up — paid $2.52 to place.
Ortiz said he followed Renegade, ridden by older brother Irad, just as he did in the Derby. It worked out just the same in the first Saturday in June as the first Saturday in May.
“He was a bouncing a bit today, which made me very happy because I wanted him to be a little bit sharper today," Jose Ortiz said. “You can see him, he’s very relaxed. He does what I ask him to do. That’s the main thing.”
Co-owner Vinnie Viola dedicated the race to late friend Dominic DiPrisco, who died Wednesday at age 70.
“I know you’re in heaven, and I love you and this race is for you,” Viola said. “It means more than I can express in words right now."
Ortiz won the Belmont Stakes for the second time, nine years after his first aboard Tapwrit in 2017.
“We just wanted him to get better and keep winning these kinds of races,” Ortiz said. "We’re very happy with him. It’s all about him.”
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, center, with Jockey Jose Ortiz, left, holds the trophy after Golden Tempo won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, right, greet Golden Tempo (9) and Jockey Jose Ortiz after they won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates aboard Golden Tempo as they are led to the winner's circle after winning the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates as he crosses the finish line aboard Golden Tempo (9) to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Golden Tempo (9) with Jockey Jose Ortiz crosses the finish line to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Spectators watch the second race of the day before the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jockeys walk thoroughbreds to the track for the second race of the day before the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
