The game was decided before San Francisco could settle in. Miami exploded for eight runs in the first four innings, turning what should have been a competitive matchup into a comfortable 9-4 victory at Oracle Park.
Sandy Alcantara anchored the Marlins' effort with six innings of three-run ball, allowing nine hits while striking out four. The veteran right-hander improved to 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA, working efficiently through 108 pitches to earn his third win of the season.
The offensive barrage began immediately. Edwards doubled to right to score Marsee in the first, then Hicks followed with a two-run homer to right center that traveled 390 feet. Miami added another run in the second when Pauley singled home Caissie, then Hicks drove in Stowers with a sacrifice fly in the third. The knockout blow came in the fourth when Norby launched a three-run homer to center field, a 418-foot blast that scored Caissie and Pauley to make it 8-0.
Adrian Houser never found his rhythm for San Francisco, lasting just four innings while surrendering 11 hits and eight earned runs. The right-hander fell to 0-3 with his ERA at 7.36, unable to contain Miami's balanced attack that saw seven different players record hits.
San Francisco managed a brief rally in the fifth with three consecutive RBI singles from Gilbert, Haase and Arraez, and Jung Hoo Lee added a solo homer in the eighth. But the deficit proved insurmountable. Miami improved to 12-13 while San Francisco fell to 11-14.