MIAMI — The Marlins are beat up — quite literally in a couple of cases — with the All-Star break just three days away.
Need proof?
Just look at the left eye bruise Billy Hamilton suffered during a collision at the plate on Thursday afternoon or the piece of a tooth that went flying out of Miguel Rojas’ mouth after another collision at second base later in the contest.
And yet Miami found a way to salvage a four-game series split with the Pittsburgh Pirates and avoid losing ground in the playoff chase following a 3-2 comeback victory in 11 innings at loanDepot Park.
Miami (43-45) picked up its second consecutive walk-off win in extra innings against Pittsburgh when Brian Anderson hit a two-run triple to the right-center field gap to score Jesus Aguilar and Avisail Garcia one pitch after Anderson was originally given first base on a hit-by-pitch that was overturned.
The Marlins could have gained more ground in the National League Wild Card chase had they fared better this week against Pittsburgh, but an opportunity lies ahead with a potentially meaningful three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies starting Friday.
For Anderson, it was redemption after an error at third base led to the Pirates tying the game at 1 in the eighth inning. Diego Castillo’s sharp liner down the line skipped off Anderson’s leg and under his glove before reaching the left-field corner. This allowed Yoshi Tsutsugo, who singled with two outs on the prior at-bat, to score from first.
It was the second time in less than a week that a defensive miscue by Anderson allowed a tying run to score in the eighth inning or later.
Ben Gamel’s one-out double to left off reliever Richard Bleier in the 11th scored Tsutsugo to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead. But the Marlins put runners on the corners when Garcia singled, setting up Anderson’s game-winner.
Braxton Garrett gave the Marlins a stellar start, striking out a career-best 11 batters over six scoreless innings. Garrett struck out the side in the sixth after flirting with danger in each of the first five innings, allowing at least one baserunner in each of those frames. Garrett threw a season-high 102 pitches, hit two batters and allowed two hits and two walks.
Over his past three starts, Garrett has allowed four earned runs over 19 innings (1.89 ERA), nine hits, four walks and struck out 18.
Garrett’s strikeouts were the third-most in a game by a Marlins starter this season behind Sandy Alcantara (14) and Jesus Luzardo (12).
The Marlins needed two players who didn’t even begin the day in their starting lineup — Hamilton and Joey Wendle — to put together their first run.
Hamilton made his second start as a Marlin after Jesus Sanchez was scratched just before the game due to a personal matter. He would later pinch hit in the eighth inning and replace Hamilton in center field from that point on. Wendle entered the game in the second inning after Jon Berti suffered a mild left groin strain.
Hamilton suffered the bruise after colliding with Pirates catcher Jason Delay’s left leg on his slide into home in the fifth inning. Hamilton, who picked up his first hit since joining the Marlins on a single to left off former Miami pitcher Zach Thompson, was initially ruled out on the play, but the call was overturned after a Marlins challenge.
THIS AND THAT
— Berti suffered his injury stealing his 28th base of the season in the first inning. He finished the inning but was replaced by Wendle in the top of the second.
— Reliever Anthony Bender (back) began a rehab assignment with the club’s Florida Complex League affiliate in Jupiter on Thursday. He threw a perfect first inning with three strikeouts. Bender, who has a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings (16 appearances) this season, has not pitched since May 18.
