Otto Lopez's RBI single in the 9th gives Marlins 4-3 victory over the Cardinals
Otto Lopez hit a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to drive in Tim Anderson and the Miami Marlins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Wednesday.
Lopez's liner off Ryan Fernandez (0-2) was bobbled by right fielder Alec Burleson, but is doubtful he would have had a play. Tanner Scott (6-5) got the win after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.
The NL-worst Marlins took two of three from the Cardinals, who fell back below .500 at 36-37.
Kyle Gibson had been scheduled to start for the Cardinals after being on the bereavement list this week following a death in his family, but was scratched just before game time with back tightness.
Emergency starter Matthew Liberatore gave up homers to the Marlins first two hitters, Bryan De La Cruz, his 13th of the season, and Jesús Sánchez, his sixth. Josh Bell followed with a double and Jake Burger walked, but a double play and a fly out got Liberatore out of the first inning.
He then retired eight more batters in a row before being lifted with two outs in the fourth.
The Cardinals tied it in the second on a 436-foot homer to center by Nolan Gorman, his 16th, off Marlins starter Yonny Chirinos and Brendan Donovan's RBI single.
Chirinos, a veteran right-hander, got a no-decision in his Marlins debut, giving up two runs and eight hits in five-plus innings after being called up from Triple-A Jacksonville. He walked none while striking out six.
The Marlins took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, as pinch-hitter Dane Myers drove a line-drive sacrifice fly to right, scoring Sanchez.
An error by Burger at third allowed the Cardinals to tie the game in the seventh as Paul Goldschmidt's grounder went under his glove and down the line as Masyn Winn scored from first.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado left the game after being hit in the right elbow by a fastball thrown by Miami Marlins reliever Huascar Brazoban leading off the eighth inning. The team said he suffered a bruise and was undergoing further evaluation. He was replaced in the game by José Fermín.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: Right-hander Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder) could rejoin the team Thursday if his appearance with Triple-A Memphis goes well Wednesday night. ... Winn returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game with an illness.
UP NEXT
Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-3, 4.61) will start when the Cardinals travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to play the Giants at historic Rickwood Field on Thursday night. San Francisco has not announced a starting pitcher.
The Marlins host the Mariners in a three-game series on Friday night.
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