Suns' Marisnick has 'grand' ole time

Jake Marisnick had a career night after the seventh inning of the Suns game Thursday. Then he made it a record-setting evening an inning later.

The Marlins' No. 2 prospect hit the first two grand slams of his career and tied a Southern League record with nine RBIs as Double-A Jacksonville routed Pensacola, 11-2.

It looked as though Marisnick's run-scoring double in the first inning might be the game's only run as the Suns opened their half of the seventh. Jacksonville loaded the bases with one out for Marisnick, who launched a home run off Josh Ravin to extend the club's lead to 6-0.

"I got a good pitch to hit. He left a curveball up and I put a good swing on it," Marisnick said. "I hit it pretty good, but the way the ball had been flying, the wind was blowing across and some guys had hit balls out there that just died. I thought I got it pretty good and I guess it got out by enough."

The 22-year-old outfielder found himself in an identical situation one inning later and did not disappoint, becoming the first player on the circuit to drive in nine runs since Butch Garcia managed the feat for Charlotte on Aug. 4, 1989.

"It was awesome," said Marisnick, who had never before driven in more than four runs. "All the guys were pretty fired up for me. They did a great job tonight, getting on, taking walks and laying off good pitches. We haven't been swinging the bats really well so for us to put up a big number like that, it was a lot of fun."

No player in the Southern League has collected two grand slams in the same game since MiLB.com came into existence in 2005.

Marisnick entered the game in a 2-for-26 slump. While he didn't do anything differently Thursday night, it was more returning to normal for the Florida native.

"Just little things I've been working on with Kevin Randel, the hitting coach," he said. "Just kind of got up there and let it happen. Sometimes I've been overswinging and that gets me into a bad situation."

He also received some help for Logan Morrison, who is rehabbing down in Jacksonville following knee surgery in September. Morrison walked as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, scoring on Marisnick's first grand slam.

"It was awesome," Marisnick said. "He kind of had a lot to say to me. He watched some of my at-bats and he told me, 'Hey you need to relax, you're pressing a little bit.'"

In the end, Marisnick seemed a little awestruck at the record-setting night he had.

"I dont really have words for it, I'm still kind of letting it sink in," he said. "It's a special night and I'm enjoying it."

Christian Yelich, the Marlins' top prospect, was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI while Mark Canha added three hits and scored twice for the Suns.

Robert Morey gave up six hits and struck out four over six scoreless innings to earn his second win for Jacksonville.