MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Marlins were on the verge of another home victory when their comeback came up just short.
Miami left the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings, stranded a runner at third in the 10th and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-7 in 11 innings Saturday.
That ended the Marlins’ seven-game home winning streak. They had won four in a row overall.
“We get a hit in any of those situations, and it’s over,” manager Mike Redmond said.
The Marlins lost even though they tied a franchise record at Marlins Park with three home runs and erased a 7-2 sixth-inning deficit. Miami went 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
“We were down early but we kept coming and coming and coming,” said Casey McGehee, who doubled twice. “We had chances to end it. Sometimes you’re not going to get the hit you’re looking for, but we had a heck of a lot of hits we needed to get us back in that game, and that says a lot about this team.”
Pinch-hitter Carl Crawford hit a two-run homer in the 11th off Carlos Marmol (0-2). Marmol said he made a mistake by throwing the pitch down the middle.
“He hit it far,” Marmol said. “I feel bad because the team played well.”
The Marlins’ Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer in the seventh. Jeff Baker, who came into the game 4 for 40 this season, and Jeff Mathis both hit their first home run for Miami.
The power surge compensated for a poor outing by Jacob Turner, who was activated from the disabled list before the game. He gave up nine hits and six runs in four innings.
“It just seemed like he was teetering the whole four innings,” Redmond said.
The Dodgers scored their first seven runs with two outs. Six came against Turner, back in the rotation after missing a month because of a strained pitching shoulder.
“No excuses. I had two rehab starts and I was ready to go,” Turner said. “I just have to execute a little better with two outs.”
The Dodgers’ Dee Gordon drove in two runs, scored twice, contributed a defensive gem at second base and stole three bases to increase his total to 19, most in the majors. He’s 8 for 11 in the series to hike his average to .357.
“He’s hitting .350, he’s stealing bags, he’s playing good defense,” manager Don Mattingly said. “You can’t really ask a whole lot more.”
Gordon became the first Dodgers player since at least 1914 to have five or more hits and three or more stolen bases in a game, according to STATS. The last major league player to do it was Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies in 2008.
“I’m just trying to help us win any way possible,” Gordon said.
Crawford echoed that sentiment. He was held out of the starting lineup because he was batting .185, and said the chance to circle the bases in the 11th was a “wonderful feeling.”
“When something like that happens, it uplifts you,” he said. “It’s a big lift for me, somebody looking for anything positive to get through the next day. To come through with a big hit like that and win the game, it’s definitely encouraging.”
Notes: The Marlins had a scare during batting practice when ace Jose Fernandez collided in the outfield with strength and conditioning coach Ty Hill and both tumbled to the turf. The right-handed Fernandez took a shot in his left shoulder but said he wasn’t hurt. … Fernandez will try to improve his career home record to 13-0 Sunday in the series finale. RHP Stephen Fife, who started 15 games for the Dodgers in 2012-13, will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Sunday for LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder). RHP Jose Dominguez will be optioned to Albuquerque. … Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (strained back) threw a bullpen session before the game and is scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Tuesday at Washington.
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