Ozuna's Homer Powers Marlins Past Giants 6-2
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
SAN FRANCISCO (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Marlins got another strong effort from their newest rotation addition on Saturday.
With the World Series MVP standing in their way, the Marlins relied on some fill-ins to get another win in San Francisco.
Backup second basemen Jeff Baker and Donovan Solano drove in three runs and David Phelps shut down San Francisco for six innings to help the Marlins beat the Giants 6-2 on Saturday night.
"That's what good teams have to do," Phelps said. "I've been around the game long enough to know that the 25 guys who start the season usually aren't the only 25 guys you use. You need guys that step up when guys go down. That's how you win games."
Marcell Ozuna homered off Madison Bumgarner (3-2) in a three-run fourth inning and Adeiny Hechavarria added two RBIs to help the Marlins win for the 14th time in their past 18 games in San Francisco.
They did it with contributions from Baker and Solano, who played in place of the majors' leading hitter Dee Gordon, and a replacement starter in Phelps (2-0). He allowed one run and six hits in six innings during another strong start in place of the injured Henderson Alvarez. Phelps has two wins and a 1.80 ERA in five starts since joining the rotation.
"He's just been tremendous down there," manager Mike Redmond said. "He's made some big starts, got deep into games and won some big games for us."
Bumgarner pitched well other than the one big inning. He struck out a season-high 10 in five innings, including slugger Giancarlo Stanton three times. But the World Series MVP also allowed four extra-base hits, including three in the fourth.
"They might not have been bad pitches but they were the wrong pitch," he said.
Ozuna got the Marlins started with his second home run of the series. A walk and the doubles by Baker and Hechavarria gave Miami a 3-0 lead.
Baker, starting because of Gordon's tight hamstring, left after that inning with a tight right oblique. Solano came in and provided insurance with a two-run double in the eighth off Jean Machi.
"We need to be ready any time to help the team any way possible," Solano said. "That's why we're here."
Bumgarner struck out four of five batters after Hechavarria's double, but his night was over after 99 pitches. This marked the first time Bumgarner has lost a game when he had at least 10 strikeouts. He had 17 wins and the Giants won his two no-decisions in his previous 19 double-digit strikeout games.
"He did have good stuff, the strikeouts showed that," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He just made three to four mistakes and they didn't miss them."
Phelps wasn't nearly as dominating but was more effective for Miami. He allowed just a pair of infield hits in the first four innings and then avoided the big inning in the fifth after Justin Maxwell led off with a double and scored on Brandon Crawford's single.
Crawford was then caught stealing and Phelps got Joe Panik to ground out with two on to end the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Gordon, who leads the majors with a .437 average, is expected back in the lineup Sunday.
Giants: OF Hunter Pence played his second straight rehab game at Triple-A Sacramento as he works his way back from a broken left forearm. Pence will take Sunday off and then play again on Monday.
STRIKEOUT STANTON
Stanton struck out four times and walked once in his five trips to the plate. It was his 11th four-strikeout game in his career.
"He'll go through some funks where he expands the strike zone," Redmond said. "But at the same time, he can come out and hit two home runs. That's the ability he has."
UP NEXT
Marlins: Mat Latos (1-3) pitches the series finale. He is 4-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 career starts against the Giants.
Giants: Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) takes the mound to try to earn San Francisco a split of the four-game series. He is 3-2 with a 1.75 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)