Marlins bats wake up late but can't complete rally. Miami drops series against Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) throws to first to put out Miami Marlins center fielder Starling Marte (6) during the seventh inning of a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)
MIAMI _ Kevin Plawecki, with a full count, the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, turned on Jose Urena's 94.8 mph low and inside sinker and watched the ball skip to the left side of the infield. The ball bounced past Brian Anderson's diving glove and into left field. Two runners scampered home.
It was the lone blemish of Urena's best start of the season, but with the Miami Marlins' bats going cold again until the final innings, that lone blemish put Miami behind. A Rafael Devers home run against Johan Quezada gave the Boston Red Sox all the insurance they needed to come away with a 5-3 win Thursday at Marlins Park and take two of three in the series. Boston won the series opener 2-0 on Tuesday, with Miami winning 8-4 on Wednesday.
It also amplifies the importance of the final three days of this homestand. Miami, now 25-23 on the season, are three games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East. The Marlins play five games against the Washington Nationals starting Friday, including doubleheaders on Friday and Sunday. They will need to win at least two of those games to have a winning record over the 15-game homestand and go at least 3-2 to head into the final week of the regular season with a winning record.
Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas (19) is congratulated by teammate Jesus Aguilar (24) after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)
Sixto Sanchez, the Marlins' top prospect, will start one of the two doubleheader games on Friday.
Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas (19) chase down Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) during the eight inning of a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) is congratulated by teammates after hitting three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS) Boston Red Sox players celebrate their 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins during a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the third inning of a baseball game at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020.(David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Miami Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm (70) fields a grounds ball hit by Boston Red Sox right fielder Alex Verdugo (99)during the third inning of a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach (17) hits aa RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena (62) pitches against the Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020.(David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach (17) makes a catch on a foul ball by Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki (25) during the first inning of a baseball game at at Marlins Park in Miami on Thursday, September 17, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)
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