Marlins score lastest walk-off victory

Christian Yelich stepped to the plate 0 for 4 in the game and 0-since-the-minors when batting with a chance for a walkoff win.

This time he came through. The Miami outfielder hit a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single in the ninth inning Thursday to give the Marlins a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Yelich said the walkoff hit was his first since Single-A. As a reward he was mobbed by his teammates after rounding first base.

“You know you’re probably going to get beat up a little bit out there, but it’s an awesome feeling,” he said. “I got horse-collared for a second, but that’s all right. I’ll take it. I’m glad I could win that one.”

The Marlins won despite squandering a 3-0 eighth-inning lead. They improved to 19-6 at home, best in majors, and have scored a game-ending run in four of their past six victories at Marlins Park.

That gives them five walkoff wins this year, which is tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the most in the majors, according to STATS.

“Nobody wants to play extra innings,” manager Mike Redmond said. “We wanted to get that thing done with and go out and have a nice meal.”

Miami’s Henderson Alvarez threw seven shutout innings, while Cole Hamels allowed three runs in seven innings. The Phillies lost two of three in the series and are 20-24 going into an 11-game homestand starting Friday.

“We’re so close for that sort of explosion to happen and for everything to come together,” Hamels said. “It’s a matter of time before it will happen, but I know personally it should happen soon.”

Philadelphia’s Marlon Byrd tied it in the eighth with a two-run homer, his sixth. Miami’s Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer, giving him two homers and seven RBIs in the past two games, and he threw out a runner at third from center field.

Ozuna also started the ninth-inning rally. He singled with one out off Jake Diekman (2-2), then took second on a two-out single by Jeff Mathis. Pinch hitter Reid Johnson reached on an infield single that Diekman bobbled, sending Ozuna to third and bringing Yelich to the plate.

“I’m thinking, ‘Don’t leave me here,’” Ozuna said. “He did a good job.”

CARDINALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2

ST. LOUIS — Allen Craig drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the seventh inning and St. Louis completed a three-game sweep.

The sweep was the first of a three-game series this season for St. Louis, which has won seven of eight.

Shane Robinson had a two-run double as part of a three-hit night.

Pat Neshek (1-0) pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings to pick up his first win as a Cardinal.

Trevor Rosenthal retired Arizona in order in the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.

Robinson, who was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Craig was 2 for 4 and also scored a run.

Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt had an RBI single and Aaron Hill drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley (3-5) lasted 6 2-3 innings and allowed three runs and seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

METS 5, DODGERS 3

NEW YORK — Jonathon Niese hit an RBI double to provide himself some much-needed run support, and the New York Mets took advantage of two Dodgers miscues to end Zack Greinke’s remarkable runs-allowed streak and beat Los Angeles 5-3 Thursday night.

Juan Lagares had a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh off Chris Perez (0-2) and Niese (3-3) pitched seven sharp innings for New York, which won for just the sixth time in 20 games this month and avoided a three-game sweep.

Rookie Eric Campbell, playing his first career game in left field, doubled Yasiel Puig off second base after making a spectacular diving catch in the eighth to preserve the Mets’ lead.

Greinke’s stretch of 21 straight starts allowing two or fewer runs ended.

Jenrry Mejia pitched the ninth for his second save.

PIRATES 3, NATIONALS 1

PITTSBURGH — Edinson Volquez allowed one run in six sharp innings and Pittsburgh edged Washington.

Volquez (2-4) ended a three-game losing streak by limiting the Nationals to three hits, walking two and striking out four. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his eighth save. Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs for the Pirates and made a sliding grab with two on in the ninth to end the game. Josh Harrison added two hits for Pittsburgh.

Ian Desmond hit his eighth homer of the season for the Nationals but Washington left 10 runners on base. Rookie Blake Treinen (0-2) struggled with his command in his second career start, giving up two runs on four hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out four and walking five. The Nationals have lost three of four.

CUBS 5, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO — Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run home run against his old team and Jake Arrieta pitched six strong innings to lead Chicago to a victory against San Diego.

Arrieta (1-0) held San Diego to one run and four hits, struck out seven and walked one. He was activated May 3 after beginning the season on the disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder and came in with a 2.70 ERA in three starts.

San Diego lost its fourth straight game. It was the 15th time in 48 games the Padres scored one or no runs.

The Padres were shut out for the eighth time — most in the majors — on Wednesday night, losing 2-0 to Minnesota.

Stults (2-5) gave up five runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings, struck out four and walked none.

GIANTS 2, ROCKIES 2, SUSPENDED

DENVER — The game between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants was suspended after the second rain delay, with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

A makeup date was still being determined. The Giants next visit Coors Field on Sept. 1-3.

The game was interrupted for 82 minutes before the fourth. The rain moved back in two innings later, delaying the game for another 84 minutes and leading the umpires to suspend action.

Although the weather cleared up, the field was saturated. The grounds crew dumped bags and bags of diamond dry on the infield just to try and make it playable.

RANGERS 9, TIGERS 2

DETROIT — Shin-Soo Choo homered, Chris Gimenez had four hits and the Texas Rangers rolled to a 9-2 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Texas was without Prince Fielder, who stayed home when the Rangers left for Detroit to face the big first baseman’s former team. Fielder has been out because of a herniated disk in his neck.

Yu Darvish (4-2) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking three. The Rangers broke through quickly against Detroit rookie Robbie Ray (1-1), who lasted only 3 1-3 innings. Ray allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks, and the AL Central-leading Tigers lost their fourth straight.

Ian Kinsler, who was traded to Detroit for Fielder in an offseason blockbuster, went 1 for 3 in his first game against the Rangers.

BLUE JAYS 7, RED SOX 2

BOSTON — Mark Buehrle won his major league-leading eighth game, Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista homered on consecutive pitches as Toronto completed a three-game sweep.

Toronto improved to 8-2 in its last 10 games, while Boston lost its seventh straight. The Red Sox went 0-6 on their home stand, the first time since June 1994, when they also lost six in a row at Fenway Park, that they were winless on a homestand of at least six games.

Buehrle (8-1) allowed two runs in the first two innings and left after giving up seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts in seven innings. He retired 11 of his last 12 batters.

RAYS 5, ATHLETICS 2, 11 innings

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sean Rodriguez hit a three-run home run with two out in the 11th inning to lift Tampa Bay.

Rodriguez’s team-leading fifth homer came off Luke Gregerson after Desmond Jennings’ two-out single had tied it against Dan Otero (4-1).

Yeonis Cespedes’ sacrifice fly had given the A’s a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th after tying the game with an RBI double in the ninth of Rays closer Grant Balfour.

Josh Lueke (1-2) got the win after one inning of relief for the Rays, who broke a four-game losing streak.

The Athletics lost for only the second time in 13 games.

INDIANS 8, ORIOLES 7, 13 innings

BALTIMORE — Carlos Santana doubled in two runs with two outs in the 13th inning, and Cleveland won its second straight 13-inning game and fourth straight overall.

Ryan Rayburn and Lonnie Chisenhall homered for the Indians, whose winning streak ties a season high. Three of Cleveland’s last four games have gone extra innings, including a 13-inning win over Detroit on Wednesday night.

After two hits and a walk loaded the bases in the 13th, Santana came to plate against Troy Patton (0-1) with a .148 batting average. He pulled a sharp grounder inside the third-base line, only his third hit in 32 at-bats with two outs and runners on.

Josh Outman (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Scott Atchison got three outs for his first save.

WHITE SOX 3, YANKEES 2

CHICAGO — Chris Sale retired 18 of 19 batters over six scoreless innings in his return from an arm injury for Chicago.

The left-hander retired the first 17 hitters after missing more than a month because of a flexor strain in his pitching arm, and Chicago hung on after Mark Teixeira singled in two runs against Ronald Belisario in the ninth.

An All-Star the past two seasons, Sale (4-0) struck out 10 and didn’t even come close to allowing a runner until Zoilo Almonte — a .167 hitter entering the game — lined a single to center with two out in the sixth.

David Phelps (1-1) was a tough-luck loser for New York, allowing two runs over seven innings.

MARINERS 3, ASTROS 1

SEATTLE — Michael Saunders hit a two-run infield single in the seventh inning to lift Seattle over Houston.

With the game tied at 1, the bases loaded, two outs and a full count, Saunders hit a chopper to first and narrowly outraced pitcher Tony Sipp, who was covering the bag. The batters were running on the pitch, allowing two runs to score. The play was upheld after a brief replay review.

Jose Altuve homered on the game’s first pitch for the Astros, who have lost three in a row.

Dominic Leone (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings for his first major league win in 16 appearances, and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Houston starter Jarred Cosart (3-4) gave up three runs on five hits and four walks over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out six.

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