Marlins hit four homers in 7-5 win over Brewers
MILWAUKEE (AP) A complete lack of clutch hitting didn't faze the Miami Marlins on Saturday night.
Adeiny Hechavarria had four hits, including one of four Miami solo home runs, to help the Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5.
The Marlins had 14 hits and drew nine walks, but couldn't come through in the clutch, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding 17 runners on base.
''When you have a bunch of guys you end up stranding, when you think about it you hope it doesn't come back to burn you, but you can't not like the at-bats,'' Miami manager Don Mattingly said. ''The at-bats were good all night. Guys were battling.''
Giancarlo Stanton, Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna also homered as Miami won its seventh consecutive game. It is the longest winning streak for Miami since it won seven consecutive games May 1-7, 2012. The Marlins are 12-11, the first time they have been over .500 since being 64-63 on Aug. 22, 2014.
''We're hitting our stride, weird game tonight, but we're always pushing,'' Stanton said. ''The stats won't look good with runners in scoring position tonight, but if you are always pushing and have that vibe in the dugout of `We're going to score this inning and every inning' good things will happen.''
Wei-Yin Chen (2-1) allowed three runs with two walks and four strikeouts one night after the team took a combined no-hitter into the ninth inning.
''We had so many runs, they gave me some breathing room,'' Chen said through a translator about getting early run support. ''I tried to make adjustments and settle down, and more or less it helped.''
David Phelps pitched the ninth for his first save.
Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson (1-3) had his third consecutive subpar outing, allowing six runs in just 4 1/3 innings. He didn't give up an earned run in his first two starts, but has allowed 15 in his last three and his ERA climbed to 5.55.
''Chase is a guy who relies on his fastball, it has to be located, it has to be commanded,'' Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ''He tried to establish it tonight, there were just too many misses, too many hittable pitches.''
The Brewers have lost four consecutive games and seven of eight. Milwaukee fell behind 7-1 before scoring four runs in the seventh, capped by a two-run home run by Hernan Perez, his first.
Dietrich, starting for the second consecutive game at second base after Dee Gordon was suspended 80 games for using performance enhancing substances, hit the first pitch of the game into the stands for his second home run of the season.
Milwaukee tied it, 1-1, in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by Ryan Braun.
Hechavarria opened the second with his second home run, giving Miami the lead for good, 2-1. He also had three singles and went 4-for-5 to snap a 3-for-29 slump.
Stanton hit his eighth homer of the year in the fourth and Ozuna connected for his third home run off reliever Chris Capuano to make it 7-1 in the sixth inning.
Chen exited with a 7-1 lead and two runners on base. Ramon Flores hit a two run bloop single off reliever Craig Breslow to make it 7-3 in the seventh.
POWER AT THE TOP
Mattingly said he liked Dietrich leading off because he has the ability to open the game with a homer or take a walk. ''He's that kind of guy, he's got some pop and a pretty good eye for the most part,'' Mattingly said after the game.
STRUGGLING STARTERS
Milwaukee's starting pitching continues to struggle. The starters are 5-15 with a 6.32 ERA, and have given up 14 earned runs while pitching just 13 innings in their last three games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Stanton returned to the lineup after being given a day off on Friday.
Brewers: Manager Craig Counsell said LHP Will Smith (15-day DL) continues to improve from his left knee injury. ''In the next 10 days, I'd say his activity is going to be significantly ramped up,'' Counsell said. ''And right now, the response has been positive.''
UP NEXT
Right-hander Tom Koehler (2-2) will pitch for the Marlins as they go for a three-game sweep against Milwaukee's Wily Peralta (1-3).