Dane Myers slugged a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon.
Myers went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as Miami broke a five-game losing streak. The Marlins still own the worst overall record in the National League (31-58) and the league’s worst home record (17-31).
Chicago has the worst record in the majors (26-65). The White Sox also have the worst road record in the majors (10-36).
White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet — the subject of numerous trade rumors — failed to get past four innings and settled for a no-decision.
Crochet left the game with a 3-2 lead but had elevated pitch count (93). He allowed five hits and three walks but looked good at times while blazing his fastball at 99 mph. He struck out five and left with a 3.08 ERA for the season.
Marlins reliever Huascar Brazoban (1-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings. He was dominant, striking out five and allowing no hits and one walk.
A.J. Puk pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Tanner Scott did the same in the ninth for his 13th save.
Chicago got to Marlins starter Yonny Chirinos in the first inning on a rally that started with leadoff by Tommy Pham and Andrew Benintendi. Pham scored on Luis Robert Jr.’s groundout.
Benintendi singled again in the third, this time on a swinging bunt. He scored on Gavin Sheets’ 110-mph line-drive double past first baseman Jake Burger and into the right field corner. Burger was holding Benintendi at the bag, but the liner was too hot to handle and within an inch of Burger’s glove.
On the next pitch, Andrew Vaughn pulled an RBI double that one-hopped the wall in left, giving Chicago a 3-0 lead.
Miami got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Vidal Brujan was hit by a pitch, advanced on Bryan De La Cruz’s walk and scored on Myers’ single.
The Marlins cut their deficit to 3-2 in the fourth. Xavier Edwards drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on Ali Sanchez’s single. Brujan then fell behind 0-2 before winning a seven-pitch battle against Crochet, driving an RBI single to center.
In the seventh, Myers crushed a 1-1 slider over the heart of the plate. The blast traveled 420 feet to center, scoring Burger, who had walked.
–Field Level Media
