Javier Sanoja plates two runs in loss to Braves

Sanoja was an engine for the Marlins out of the nine-spot in this game with three hits and stolen bases apiece. He’d only stolen six all season heading into this game despite his excellent speed, so this was a surprise. Still, as an everyday player who has a .280 batting average and is eligible all over the field, him becoming a willing base stealer down the stretch could make him a valuable asset in deeper leagues.

Sanoja singled in the eighth inning to tie the game at 1-1 and later came around to score on an RBI single by Otto Lopez to put the Marlins up 2-1. After the Nationals came back to tie it in the ninth inning, Sanoja would find himself up at the plate with no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. He would hit an RBI single off Nationals reliever Clayton Beeter to secure the win for the Marlins and bring an end to their three-game skid. Sanoja has now hit safely in five straight games and is slashing .362/.393/.603 in the month of August.

Sanoja’s homer was a solo shot off Aaron Nola in the sixth inning, the only run Miami could muster on the evening. He entered the game hitting .308/.345/.519 in August, a stretch in which he has operated as the Marlins’ primary third baseman.

This was a scoreless game heading into the eighth, but Miami was able to put seven across against the Reds’ bullpen. Three of those came on one swing from Sanoja, who has now homered five times in 315 at-bats. His .410 slugging percentage shows that he’s not just dink-and-dunk, but his 5-foot-7 frame obviously limits the power production. He’s done a very nice job for Miami, however, and he’s someone to keep an eye on going forward.

Sanoja’s fourth homer was hit 377 feet off Zac Thornton in the second. He’s batting .267/.306/.401 in 295 plate appearances in his utility role. It’d be better for the Marlins if he wasn’t starting quite this much versus righties — he’s come in at .242/.283/.344 against them — but at least he does add value with the glove wherever he’s playing. He started in right and later moved to third today.

The versatile 23-year-old has been really struggling the plate over the past few weeks, slashing .212/.241/.288 with zero homers and one RBI over 54 plate appearances in his last 15 games. Graham Pauley will man the hot corner for the Marlins and bat eighth against Mets’ right-hander Nolan McLean.

Lopez takes a seat for the second consecutive contest with inflammation in his right ring finger. The positive news for the Marlins, and fantasy managers, is that initial X-rays came back negative and he doesn’t appear to be facing an extended absence. The 27-year-old middle infielder has been an unexpected breakout sensation, delivering first-round fantasy value this season, slashing .335/.368/.505 with 61 runs scored, nine homers, 46 RBI and 18 stolen bases across 419 plate appearances through 97 games. It’ll be Javier Sanoja taking over at shortstop in his place on Monday night.

Sanoja knocked a base hit and scored a run in the second inning, then took Tanner Gordon deep for a three-run blast in the third to extend the Miami lead. He later added another single and a run scored in the seventh. The 23-year-old super-utility man is hitting .275/.312/.404 with three homers, 19 runs scored, 32 RBI and five steals across 206 plate appearances.

The triple, which gave him all three of his runs batted in, was a grounder down the right field line that Troy Johnston wasn’t especially quick to get to. It was Sanoja’s first triple of the year. He drove in more runs with that one hit than he had while batting .227/.239/.295 with two RBI in his previous 16 games.

It appears to just be a routine day off for the young infielder, who has struggled to a .192/.286/.192 line through his first 15 games of June. Javier Sanoja is filling in at second base against RHP Landen Roupp.