Marlins win in 12, putting Brewers' playoff hopes on ropes
MILWAUKEE - Miguel Rojas knocked in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning to give the Miami Marlins a 4-3 win over the Brewers on Sunday, deflating Milwaukee's playoff hopes in the race for the final National League wild-card spot.
Milwaukee (84-75) is two games behind Philadelphia for the third NL wild card. The Phillies, who beat the Washington Nationals 8-1 in a rain-shortened game Sunday, hold the tiebreaker with the Brewers and both clubs have three games left.
"The math is pretty simple, but we can only take care of (ourselves)," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We have to try and come out and win a game tomorrow because hat's what we can control. That's the mission tomorrow."
The Marlins took three of four from the Brewers, who have lost for the fifth time in the last seven games.
The Brewers used seven relievers behind a solid four innings from starter Reddy Peralta.
"Today is going to take its toll, for sure," Counsell said of his pitching staff for the final three games of the regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We'll have to group and figure out what's going on tomorrow."
JJ Bleday started the 12th at second for the Marlins, advanced on a ground out and scored when Rojas laced a base hit through the infield off Trevor Gott (3-3).
Tyrone Taylor started at second in the Brewers' half of the 12th. Tanner Scott, the fifth reliever used in the game, struck out Victor Caratini but walked Christian Yelich. Willy Adames flied out. Keston Hiura struck out to end the game that took 4 hours and 12 minutes. Scott picked up his 20th save of the season.
"They kind of came at us late and our guys kept hanging in there," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Huascar Brazoban (1-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 11th when Tyrone Taylor hit into a fielder's choice.
Milwaukee was 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.
"We created a lot of good opportunities," Counsell said. "We were just missing the hit."
Marlins starter Pablo López turned in seven strong innings, walking Yelich to start the game but retiring the next 12 batters before Kolten Wong reached on an infield hit. López allowed two hits, walked three and struck out seven in his final start of the season.
"To finish like that it gives him a lot of confidence going into the winter," Mattingly said.
López turned a 2-0 lead over to Richard Bleier to start the eighth, but the Brewers didn't go quietly.
Urías singled, took third on Taylor's pinch-hit ground-rule double and scored on Yelich's groundout. Dylan Floro took over for Bleier with two outs and struck out Adames to end the threat, but then let the Brewers tie it in ninth.