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)

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump meandered Saturday through a list of grievances against Vice President Kamala Harris and other issues during an event intended to link his Democratic opponent to illegal border crossings.

A day after Harris discussed immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump spoke to a crowd in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, about immigration. He blamed Harris for migrants committing crimes after entering the U.S. illegally, alleging she was responsible for “erasing our border.”

“I will liberate Wisconsin from the mass migrant invasion,” he said. “We’re going to liberate the country.”

Trump hopes frustration over illegal immigration will translate to votes in Wisconsin and other crucial swing states. The Republican nominee has denounced people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border as “poisoning the blood of the country” and vowed to stage the largest deportation operation in American history if elected. And polls show Americans believe Trump would do a better job than Harris on handling immigration.

Trump shifted from topic to topic so quickly that it was hard to keep track of what he meant at times. He talked about the two assassination attempts against him and blamed the U.S. Secret Service for not being able to hold a large outdoor rally instead of an event in a smaller indoor space. But he also offered asides about climate change, Harris' father, how his beach body was better than President Joe Biden's, and a fly that was buzzing near him.

“I wonder where the fly came from,” he said. "Two years ago, I wouldn’t have had a fly up here. You’re changing rapidly. But we can’t take it any longer. We can’t take it any longer.”

Trump repeatedly brought up Harris' Friday event in Douglas, Arizona, where she announced a push to further restrict asylum claims beyond Biden's executive order announced earlier this year. Harris denounced Trump's handling of the border while president and his opposing a bipartisan border package earlier this year, saying Trump “prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.”

“I had to sit there and listen" to Harris last night Trump said, eliciting cheers. “And who puts it on? Fox News. They should not be allowed to put it on. It’s all lies. Everything she says is lies.”

The Republican nominee also intensified his personal attacks against Harris, insulting her as “mentally impaired” and a “disaster.”

Trump professed not to understand what Harris meant when she said he was responsible for taking children from their parents. Under his administration, border agents separated children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border in a policy that was condemned globally as inhumane and one that Trump himself ended under pressure from his own party.

Harris, at a rally in San Francisco, told supporters there were “two very different visions for our nation” and voters see it “every day on the campaign trial.”

“Donald Trump is the same old tired show,” she said. “The same tired playbook we have heard for years.”

She Trump was “a very unserious man." “However the consequences of putting him back in the White House are extremely serious.”

At Trump's event, on either side of the stage were poster-sized mug shots of men in the U.S. illegally accused of a crime, including Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate, a case Trump cited in his speech.

Wisconsin Republicans in recent days have cited the story of Coronel Zarate's arrest in Prairie du Chien as more evidence that people in the country illegally are committing crimes across the United States, not just in southern border states. Prosecutors charged Coronel Zarate on Sept. 18 with sexual assault, child abuse, strangulation and domestic abuse. His lawyers declined to comment.

Police Chief Kyle Teynor posted statements on Facebook saying that Coronel Zarate is not a U.S. citizen and that he had two fake immigration documents, including a fake Social Security card. The chief added that Coronel Zarate’s tattoos indicate he’s affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, which started in Venezuelan prisons and is posing a growing threat in the U.S.

Speaking to the crowd Saturday, Teynor stressed to the crowd that Coronel Zarate is the only Venezuelan gang member his agency has encountered, but the violence his two alleged victims suffered at his hands earlier this month was very real.

Republicans including U.S. Sen. Derrick Van Orden, who is from Prairie du Chien, have criticized authorities in both Minneapolis and Madison for letting Coronel Zarate go, saying they essentially allowed him to attack the woman in Prairie du Chien. They have accused both jurisdictions of being sanctuaries for people in the country illegally.

Van Orden told the crowd Trump was the only one who could restore order.

“You’re going to see the one man who has enough strength and courage of conviction to stand up to anyone up to and including being shot in the head for us," he said.

Long reported from Washington. Associated Press Writer Will Weissert reported from San Francisco.

Supporters cheer as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Supporters wait for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Supporters wait for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Merchandise vendor Sam Smith, of Sarasota, Fla., stands with his dog Milo while waiting for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A supporter waits for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A supporter waits for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Supporters pose for a photo while waiting for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives for a town hall event at Macomb Community College Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)