Rojas' walk-off sac fly in 11th gives Marlins win over Padres
The Sports Xchange
Aug 27, 2017
MIAMI -- Miguel Rojas hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and Marcell Ozuna hit a 453-foot home run earlier in the game to lead the surging Miami Marlins to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Marlins Park.
Derek Dietrich started the winning rally with a leadoff double that hit the wall in right-center on a short hop. He then advanced to third on a Mike Aviles bunt. Dietrich scored easily on Rojas' fly ball to right-center.
Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 49 homers, went 2-for-4 with two singles and an intentional walk. Ozuna upstaged him with his 31st homer of the season.
Stanton (105 RBIs) and Ozuna (102 RBIs) are just the second Marlins duo to have more than 30 homers and 100 RBIs in the same season. Carlos Delgado and Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat in 2005.
By defeating the Padres (57-72), the Marlins (65-63) won their third straight game and remained in contention for a wild-card playoff berth. Since May 28, the Marlins have one of the top four records in the majors at 48-33.
San Diego was led by Cory Spangenberg and rookie pitcher Dinelson Lamet. Spangenberg swiped home as part of a double steal. Lamet left with a no-decision but allowed just one run in six innings.
Miami's Odrisamer Despaigne made just his second start of the season and allowed just one run in six innings.
San Diego got to Despaigne in the second inning. With two outs, the Padres had Spangenberg at third, Jabari Blash at first and Lamet at the plate. Blash took off for second, and Spangenberg scored easily when catcher J.T. Realmuto's throw to second sailed into center field for the double steal.
Ozuna tied the score in the fourth with his home run on a 0-2 pitch. Ozuna fouled off three straight pitches before connecting to left-center.
Lamet's last batter of the game was a battle. With runners on the corners and two outs, Tomas Tellis fouled off five consecutive pitches before popping out.
Miami wasted an even better opportunity in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with no outs. San Diego brought in All-Star closer Brad Hand, who got Dee Gordon on a force out, intentionally walked Stanton, struck out Christian Yelich and retired Ozuna on a fly ball.
NOTES: Ichiro Suzuki broke Miami's single-season pinch-hit record in the seventh inning. It was Suzuki's 22nd pinch hit of the season, which leads the majors and is one more than Ross Gload had for the Marlins in 2009. ... The 49 homers by Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton are the most by an NL hitter since Prince Fielder hit 50 for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. ... Marlins 1B Justin Bour (oblique) fielded grounders and hit off a tee. He hopes to return in a couple of weeks. ... The Padres claimed RHP Tim Melville on waivers from the Minnesota Twins and sent him to Triple-A El Paso. ... Padres INF Yangervis Solarte started at SS. In his previous four starts, he was used at 2B, SS, 3B and 1B. Since 2016, only two other major-leaguers -- Javier Baez and Jurickson Profar -- started at all four infield positions in a span of four games.
Aug 27, 2017
MIAMI -- Miguel Rojas hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, and Marcell Ozuna hit a 453-foot home run earlier in the game to lead the surging Miami Marlins to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Marlins Park.
Derek Dietrich started the winning rally with a leadoff double that hit the wall in right-center on a short hop. He then advanced to third on a Mike Aviles bunt. Dietrich scored easily on Rojas' fly ball to right-center.
Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 49 homers, went 2-for-4 with two singles and an intentional walk. Ozuna upstaged him with his 31st homer of the season.
Stanton (105 RBIs) and Ozuna (102 RBIs) are just the second Marlins duo to have more than 30 homers and 100 RBIs in the same season. Carlos Delgado and Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat in 2005.
By defeating the Padres (57-72), the Marlins (65-63) won their third straight game and remained in contention for a wild-card playoff berth. Since May 28, the Marlins have one of the top four records in the majors at 48-33.
San Diego was led by Cory Spangenberg and rookie pitcher Dinelson Lamet. Spangenberg swiped home as part of a double steal. Lamet left with a no-decision but allowed just one run in six innings.
Miami's Odrisamer Despaigne made just his second start of the season and allowed just one run in six innings.
San Diego got to Despaigne in the second inning. With two outs, the Padres had Spangenberg at third, Jabari Blash at first and Lamet at the plate. Blash took off for second, and Spangenberg scored easily when catcher J.T. Realmuto's throw to second sailed into center field for the double steal.
Ozuna tied the score in the fourth with his home run on a 0-2 pitch. Ozuna fouled off three straight pitches before connecting to left-center.
Lamet's last batter of the game was a battle. With runners on the corners and two outs, Tomas Tellis fouled off five consecutive pitches before popping out.
Miami wasted an even better opportunity in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with no outs. San Diego brought in All-Star closer Brad Hand, who got Dee Gordon on a force out, intentionally walked Stanton, struck out Christian Yelich and retired Ozuna on a fly ball.
NOTES: Ichiro Suzuki broke Miami's single-season pinch-hit record in the seventh inning. It was Suzuki's 22nd pinch hit of the season, which leads the majors and is one more than Ross Gload had for the Marlins in 2009. ... The 49 homers by Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton are the most by an NL hitter since Prince Fielder hit 50 for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. ... Marlins 1B Justin Bour (oblique) fielded grounders and hit off a tee. He hopes to return in a couple of weeks. ... The Padres claimed RHP Tim Melville on waivers from the Minnesota Twins and sent him to Triple-A El Paso. ... Padres INF Yangervis Solarte started at SS. In his previous four starts, he was used at 2B, SS, 3B and 1B. Since 2016, only two other major-leaguers -- Javier Baez and Jurickson Profar -- started at all four infield positions in a span of four games.
