Marlins Finish Strong, Defeat Brewers With Late Heroics
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Francisco Rodriguez summed up the feeling in the somber Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse after the team's latest tough loss.
"Miserable, that's what it is," said Rodriguez, who surrendered back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning as the Brewers were beaten 6-3 by the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
The fading Brewers have fallen out of playoff contention by losing 13 out of the past 14 games.
Rodriguez, who has given up a career-high 14 home runs this season, hung his head as he sat at his locker.
"Disgusting, and all the bad words you can use to describe it. Extremely disappointing," he said.
Casey McGehee, who played for Milwaukee from 2009-11, belted a two-out, two-run blast off Rodriguez (4-5) that snapped a 3-3 tie. Marcell Ozuna, who reached base five times, followed with another homer.
"I'm tired of coming in here and talking about another loss," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "We're playing hard, we're working hard. These guys are putting everything they can into it, and we keep coming up with the same results. It gets old. Things are just going wrong for us in all areas."
The Marlins broke through for two runs in the third inning against Matt Garza, who lasted just four innings and threw 84 pitches in his second start after missing nearly four weeks with an oblique strain. He gave up six hits, two runs — one earned — and one walk. He had seven strikeouts.
"His pitch count got high early," Roenicke said. "But I thought he threw the ball well."
The Brewers tied it in the bottom of the third off Tom Koehler, who gave up six hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out three in five innings.
Miami regained the lead in the sixth on a run-scoring double by Garrett Jones. The Brewers tied it in the seventh when Aramis Ramirez's single drove in Scooter Gennett, who had doubled.
Bryan Morris (8-1) pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth to earn the win. Steve Cishek earned his 34th save in 38 chances.
CAN'T GO HOME:
The Brewers loaded the bases with no outs against Morris in the eighth inning but failed to score. Back-to-back base runners were forced out at the plate before Morris retired Gennett on a fly ball to right. Gennett flipped the bat in disgust as he jogged toward first base.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY
A botched pickoff by Garza in the third inning set up the Marlins' second run. As the slow-footed McGehee broke for second, Garza spiked a throw into the dirt that skipped into the outfield grass. McGehee later scored from second on Ozuna's single, leading to an unearned run.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: Struggling OF Ryan Braun wasn't in the starting lineup due to a sore thumb and hand. "It's part of the reason he's been swinging the bat the way he has," Roenicke said. Braun entered the game as a pinch-hitter.
Marlins: Henderson Alvarez, who left his last start on Sept. 1 with an oblique strain, threw a light bullpen session on Tuesday and is expected to return to the rotation on Friday at Philadelphia. "I think we are all fortunate that this wasn't a year-ender for him," Redmond said.
ON DECK
Brewers: Wily Peralta (15-10, 3.84 ERA) has lost his last three starts while posting a 10.29 ERA. Peralta lost his only other start against the Marlins this season despite giving up just one run in six innings at Miami on May 24.
Marlins: Jarred Cosart (4-1, 1.99) has never faced the Brewers. He allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings in his last start on Friday against Atlanta.
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