Luis Arraez singled home the winning run with the bases loaded in the tenth inning and the Miami Marlins ended an eight-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
With the Rockies playing five infielders, Arraez lined to empty right field off Pierce Johnson (1-5), scoring Joey Wendle from third.
«I saw all five infielders and there was no right fielder,» Arraez said, «so I’m just thinking, ‘If he throws one in there, I’m going to throw it out.’ The good thing is we won the game. It’s been a long time since we’ve won.»
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Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez (3) throws his bat after hitting the game-winning go-ahead run in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miami. The Marlins defeated the Rockies 3-2. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Arraez hit a 1-1 curveball for his first career hit.
“He looked over at the one place they weren’t and said, ‘I’m going to hit there.’ That’s who he is,» Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. «He’s incredible bat-to-ball ability, nothing I’ve ever seen in my days as a player or coach.»
Arraez went 3 for 4, raising his league-leading batting average to .379.
«He’s the leading hitter in the National League, he gets hits,» Rockies manager Bud Black said. «You know, it was a scenario we obviously didn’t want to get to. He sought it out for a line.»
Huascar Brazoban (4-2) was the winning pitcher for Miami, which earned its first victory since the All-Star break.
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Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins scores on Yuli Gurriel’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run and striking out a career-high 13.
Luzardo’s previous high of 12 strikeouts was achieved twice last year (April 12, 2022, at the Angels and October 3, 2022, against Atlanta). He also tied the club record for most strikeouts by a left-handed starter, tying Braxton Garrett, who struck out 13 on June 22, 2023 against Pittsburgh.
His last strikeout came against Brenton Doyle, who homered off him in the fifth and stranded two runners in the seventh.
«We needed an outing like that,» Marlins catcher Nick Fortes said. «When things go wrong, you need a dominant pitcher to put his foot down and take the lead. He definitely did it for us today.»
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Miami Marlins shortstop Jon Berti (5) throws to first base on a single hit by Colorado Rockies Randal Grichuk during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Luzardo finished with double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time in his career and second this season.
«That guy has a really good fastball, but the secondary pitches came into play today, the changeup, the slider.» said the black. «We couldn’t get the bat to the ball enough times.»
Colorado’s Randal Grichuk homered on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the ninth off closer AJ Puk to tie the score 2-2.
Trailing 1–0, the Marlins broke through in the sixth when Arraez hit a scoring double past Fortes from second to tie the score at 1. Fortes had singled to lead off the inning and took second on a wild pitch from Connor Seabold.
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Colorado Rockies Randal Grichuk (15) celebrates with the team after hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
After Jorge Soler singled and Arraez advanced to third, Seabold was replaced by Brent Suter. Arraez scored on Yuli Gurriel’s sacrifice fly to center field to give the Marlins a 2–1 lead.
Doyle gave the Rockies a 1–0 lead with his two-out solo home run to right field in the fifth off Luzardo.
Ty Blach, making his first start for the Rockies this season, allowed two hits and struck out two in three scoreless innings. Blach was replaced by Seabold to start the fourth inning.
«It was nice to be able to go out and throw pitches,» Blach said.
COACHES ROOM
Rockies: Kris Bryant is on the go after getting hit in the hand with a pitch in Saturday’s game. … CJ Cron is day by day with a back injury.
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Colorado Rockies left fielder Jurickson Profar catches a hit by Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
UNTIL NEXT TIME
RHP Edward Cabrera (5-5, 4.50) will start for the Marlins in Tuesday’s game at Tampa Bay.
The Rockies have not announced a starter for Monday’s game in Washington.