Ketel Marte heating up as Diamondbacks complete homestand

When the Diamondbacks gave second baseman Ketel Marte a five-year, $24 million contract extension in late March, it was based on the belief that Marte would build upon a 2017 season in which he hit .260 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in 255 at-bats.

But through the first 50 games of this season, Marte had failed to live up to those expectations. His batting average had fallen to .212 after the Diamondbacks completed their road trip on May 27.

Marte, however, may be coming out of his slump. He had five extra-base hits in the Diamondbacks’ three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, including a double and triple in Sunday’s 6-1 victory.

Over the six-game homestand, Marte hit .421 with two homers,…