ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ The Miami Marlins' let a two-run lead slip away Sunday after a parade of solo home runs set up the Tampa Bay Rays to walk off on the Marlins in the bottom of the 10th inning at Tropicana Field.
After Matt Joyce put the Marlins ahead with a go-ahead single in the top of the 10th, Ji-Man Choi tied the game back up with a lead-off double against Brandon Kintzler, then Kevin Kiermaier hit a walk-off to give the Rays a 5-4 win in St. Petersburg.
Choi started the inning as a pinch-hitter for outfielder Brett Phillips and waited out three sinkers by Kintzler. The relief pitcher eventually went to his changeup and the first baseman tied the game at 4-4, ripping a line drive down the right-field line and scoring utility infielder Joey Wendle, who started the inning on second under new MLB extra-inning rules. Choi then went to third base on a flyout and Lowe beat the Marlins (17-18) with a sacrifice fly to center
The Rays (28-13) won their second series against Miami in eight days and took 5 of 6 in the season series.
The loss drops the Marlins below .500 for just the third time this season and could knock them out of playoff position by the end of the day. Miami entered the Sunday as the No. 7 seed and top wild card in the National League, a half game ahead of the Colorado Rockies, and a full game ahead of both the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. Both the Giants and Brewers could pass the Marlins by percentage points with wins Sunday.
Miami had a chance to put pressure on the Rays in the ninth inning. Lewin Diaz led off the top of the frame with a double to deep left-center field and manager Don Mattingly spent the rest of the inning trying to manufacture a run out of it. The manager inserted speedy utility man Jon Berti as a pinch runner for the rookie and Jazz Chisholm tried to push him to third with a bunt, but shortstop, who had his first career hit in the seventh, popped out to third.
Mattingly then emptied his bench to no avail. Slugger Garrett Cooper pinch hit for utility infielder Eddy Alvarez and flew out to left field. Shortstop Miguel Rojas pinch hit for catcher Chad Wallach and drew a walk. Outfielder Corey Dickerson finally flew out to right field and Miami's go-ahead threat was over. The Marlins were on their way to their seventh loss in 10 with a series loss to their in-state rival in St. Petersburg.
