Marlins Push Past Padres 6-3
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton found a way to keep the Miami Marlins on a roll.
Stanton drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and the Marlins increased their season-high winning streak to six games with a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Combined with a solid outing by Ricky Nolasco (4-0), the Marlins (14-14) got back to .500 after winning the first six games on this nine-game road trip.
"From where we came from, we are actually catching a lot of breaks," Miami manager Ozzie Guillen said.
None bigger than the eight-pitch at-bat between Stanton and Andrew Cashner in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game when the Padres reliever threw eight pitches of 101 mph or faster.
"It was a great matchup," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was great theatre, there's no doubt about it."
Jose Reyes led off the eighth against Cashner (2-2) with a single and Emilio Bonifacio reached on a bunt single. With one out, Logan Morrison was walked intentionally. Cashner then struck out Omar Infante, with the final two pitches hitting at least 101 mph on the radar gun.
Stanton, who had homered in two straight games and four of his past five, then ran the count full against Cashner before the right-hander missed high on a 101 mph fastball.
Seven of the eight pitches to Stanton were 101 mph. The other was 102.
"It was a good at-bat," Cashner said. "I was one pitch away from getting out of it and couldn't make the pitch. I was going at him with my best stuff and he is one of the best young guys in the game right now."
Said Guillen: "I saw 102 (mph) but you can throw 120 and without command you are going to get hurt. It's all about command and making good pitches. It was a hell of an at-bat."
With Gaby Sanchez batting, the Marlins scored another run when catcher John Baker was charged with a passed ball. Sanchez put Miami ahead 5-2 with an RBI single to chase Cashner before Stanton scored on another passed ball.
Miami lost eight of nine before beginning its winning streak. The Marlins have swept consecutive three-game series on the road for the second time in team history.
"It's been tough. We had a tough few games but we are turning it around right now," Nolasco said. "There are big wins for the team, so hopefully we can keep it going."
Nolasco allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings to tie Dontrelle Willis for the club record with his 68th career win.
"It means a lot," Nolasco said. " I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me to be here this long."
Edward Mujica pitched the ninth for his second save. It was the first time the Marlins have had a save opportunity since closer Heath Bell was demoted on Friday.
San Diego pitcher Joe Wieland helped himself when he hit a two-run double in the fifth to put the Padres ahead 2-0.
Miami came right back after Nolasco walked leading off the sixth. He went to second on Reyes' single, advanced on a flyout and scored on Hanley Ramirez's fielder's choice.
Morrison tied the score at 2 with a triple to center, knocking Wieland out of the game.
Wieland allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings and avoided becoming the first Padres pitcher to lose his first five career starts.
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