De La Cruz single, Luzardo's 10 Ks lift Marlins over Twins
MIAMI - Bryan De La Cruz hit a go-ahead single in the eighth, Jorge Soler homered twice and Jesús Luzardo fanned 10 to lift the Miami Marlins over the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Wednesday afternoon.
Jean Segura and Jon Berti hit back-to-back one-out singles against reliever Griffin Jax (0-1) in the eighth before De La Cruz's RBI single against Caleb Thielbar scored Segura and broke a 1-1 tie.
Soler followed with a three-run shot to left field to give Miami a four-run cushion.
The Twins made it 5-2 in the ninth when Kyle Farmer scored on a wild pitch by A.J. Puk, who had given up a single to Farmer and walked Ryan Jeffers with one out. Puk got Willi Castro to fly out and then struck out Trevor Larnach for the series win.
Larnach tied it 1-all in the seventh with an RBI single that scored Jeffers, who doubled earlier in the frame.
The Marlins had pitched 15 straight shutout innings before the seventh — including Sandy Alcantara's complete-game shutout Tuesday.
Luzardo had his fifth career double-digit strikeout game; the 25-year-old left-hander struck out 12 against Atlanta on Oct. 25, 2022. On Wednesday, he allowed five hits and a run with one walk before Dylan Floro (1-0) replaced him in the seventh after 99 pitches.
Miami's star center fielder Jazz Chisolm Jr. had a leadoff single but left in the first inning with a stinger in his right shoulder after he was caught stealing second.
Minnesota's Willi Castro and Segura were also caught stealing second. Michael Taylor successfully stole second in the sixth inning.
Soler had a solo homer to right-center off starter Pablo López in the first to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
López struck out eight, walked one and limited the Marlins to three hits in seven innings.
Segura, who had two throwing errors, had Miami's other hit against López.
Minnesota loaded the bases in the sixth when Taylor singled, Carlos Correa walked and Donovan Solano added a two-out single, but Luzardo retired Miranda on a flyout to escape the jam.
BERTI'S AWARD
Berti was presented his award for leading the league in stolen bases (41) last season. The shortstop is the seventh Marlin to lead the MLB in stolen bases.
LÓPEZ'S WARM WELCOME
Wednesday was López's first time facing his former team since he was dealt to Minnesota on Jan. 20 in a trade that brought Luis Arraez to Miami. López spent the first five seasons of his career in Miami.
He received a loud applause in the first game of the series when his face flashed on the jumbo screen, and greeted his former teammates, including Alcantara.
"He's a good pitcher. He really is," Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. "I wish he wasn't such a nice person, too."
TRAINERS ROOM
Miami: Bryan De La Cruz replaced Chisholm in center field.
UP NEXT
Minnesota: After an off day Thursday, RHP Sonny Gray (1-0) will start at home against Houston on Friday.
Miami: RHP Edward Cabrera will start Thursday at the New York Mets.
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