Bryan De La Cruz and Jake Burger homered off Freddy Peralta in the first inning to put the Miami Marlins ahead for good in a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
Miami’s Josh Bell also went deep with a ninth-inning drive against Janson Junk for his 1,000th career hit. Bell received a standing ovation when he returned to the locker room after the game.
“Definitely a special moment for me,” Bell said. “Thinking back to the good and the bad of my career so far, it definitely makes up for all the bad times getting to 1,000 there.”
Miami´s Trevor Rogers (2-9) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings to become the first Marlins starting pitcher to earn a win since June 11, when Jesús Luzardo gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets.
“I had no idea until one of the coaches told me,” said Rogers, who struck out just one batter but walked nobody to get his first win since May 15. “We were getting up there, so I’m glad that’s back to zero.”
Rhys Hoskins homered for Milwaukee.
The Marlins took a 5-0 lead in the first two innings and stayed in front the rest of the way despite leaving 10 runners on base. Although Miami entered Friday with the NL´s worst record, the Marlins (38-66) are 5-3 since the All-Star break while facing the Mets, the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles and the NL Central-leading Brewers.
“We’re just trying to embrace the role of a spoiler,” Bell said.
After Jazz Chisholm walked to start the game, De La Cruz hit a one-out blast into the left-field stands for his team-leading 18th homer. Two batters later, Burger also sent a shot into the left-field seats.
Burger and Bell each hit their 13th homers of the season, matching Chisholm for second on the team.
The Marlins capitalized on Milwaukee´s sloppiness to score two unearned runs in a second-inning rally that began with two outs and nobody on.
After Nick Fortes singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Peralta walked Chisholm and Xavier Edwards to load the bases. De La Cruz then hit a bouncer that shortstop Willy Adames bobbled before throwing late to first.
Two runs scored on Adames´ error, with Chisholm racing home from second.
Hoskins hit a solo shot in the third for his 16th homer, tying Adames for the Brewers´ team lead. William Contreras hit a leadoff double and scored on a Gary Sánchez sacrifice fly in the fourth to cut Miami´s lead to 5-2.
But the Brewers couldn’t get any closer.
“I didn’t feel like we had a great effort one through nine,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I’m not saying they weren’t trying. I’m just saying that I don’t think overall it was a good game for us.”
Peralta (6-6) gave up five runs, three earned, and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and matched a season high with five walks.
Murphy said that OF Christian Yelich inevitably will need to undergo surgery at some point, but added, “I fully believe” the three-time All-Star will play again this season. Yelich is on the injured list due to a back issue for the second time this season.
“Obviously he’s going to need surgery,” Murphy said. “Anything he does between now and then is a bonus. I think he wants to play very badly.”
Yelich said Thursday at his annual charity event that no surgery is planned at this point as he tries to work his way back this season. Yelich went on the injured list Wednesday.
The Marlins recalled LHP Austin Kitchen and RHP Emmanuel Ramírez from Triple-A Jacksonville and optioned RHP Roddery Muñoz to Jacksonville.