MIAMI _ With the bases loaded, two outs and the Marlins running out of opportunities Thursday, Starling Marte turned on a cutter from Philadelphia Phillies reliever Brandon Workman in the eighth inning and sent it toward right field. Bryce Harper's only play was off the wall.
Garrett Cooper, Jazz Chisholm and Corey Dickerson hustled around the basepaths. Dickerson clapped his hands as he crossed home plate, serving as the game-tying run.
The Marlins finally broke through after seven innings of squandering chances as they tried to make up for a shaky outing from their ace and a pair of defensive miscues.
And it set up Jorge Alfaro to hit a two-out walk-off single against his former team and lift the Marlins to a 7-6 win over the Phillies to begin a critical five-day, seven-game series that most likely will have postseason implications.
Alfaro drove in Monte Harrison, who was pinch-running for Brian Anderson. Harrison reached second on a Cooper groundout and stole third before scoring.
Marte went 3 for 4 on Thursday with two doubles and four RBI.
Miami (20-19) are now just a half game behind the Phillies (21-19) for second place in the NL East. Both teams are trailing the Atlanta Braves, who improved to 26-18 with a 7-6 win Thursday over the Washington Nationals.
