MILWAUKEE (AP) - Stephen Vogt wasted little time in making a good impression with his new team.
Claimed off waivers earlier in the week, Vogt belted two home runs and the Milwaukee Brewers held off the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night.
“I’m so happy to be here, to be in first place, to play on a winning team and be pushing for a playoff run,” Vogt said. “To contribute is awesome.”
Vogt, who was claimed from the Oakland Athletics, hit a solo home run in the fifth off Miami starter Edinson Volquez and a two-run shot in the seventh off reliever David Phelps (2-4).
His second round-tripper earned him his first-ever curtain call. With the announced crowd of more than 35,000 standing and cheering, Vogt emerged from the dugout waving his batting helmet about his head.
“It was pretty cool,” Vogt said, smiling.
The game was delayed about seven minutes with the Brewers batting in the fourth after a baseball apparently thrown from the stands struck first-base umpire Joe West in the back of the head. West remained in the game.
The Marlins broke through with two runs in the fifth against Brewers starter Matt Garza. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single, stole second and scored on JT Riddle’s base hit. Miami plated a second run on Dee Gordon’s fielder’s choice. Garza struck out Marcell Ozuna with the bases loaded to end the inning.
“Getting through that inning and limiting the damage and only having two runs score, we’re still in the game,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Garza gave up two runs and six hits in five innings.
Carlos Torres (4-4) got the win after pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
Corey Knebel earned his 13th save in 16 chances but not before some tense moments. Realmuto, who led off the ninth with a walk, was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Derek Dietrich’s double on a perfectly executed relay from leftfielder Hernan Perez to shortstop Orlando Arcia, who entered as a defensive replacement, to Vogt, who applied a quick tag.
“It was a real game-changer,” Knebel said.
The out call was confirmed after a 58-second review. Knebel struck out Riddle and, after walking pinch-hitter Martin Prado, got Gordon looking.
“Getting held to two runs in this ballpark, you know you didn’t really swing the bats as well as you’re capable of,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Volquez entered the game having surrendered 12 runs over his last three starts. He held the Brewers to three hits and one run over six innings. He struck out three and walked two.
MORE ON WEST
West was positioned behind the bag with one out and Milwaukee’s Travis Shaw on first base in the fourth inning when he was struck by a ball apparently thrown by a fan in the stands. Security personnel tried to locate the culprit during the delay. West remained on his feet after the ball struck him and remained at his post when play resumed.
“That can’t happen and that shouldn’t happen,” Counsell said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Everybody was a little puzzled at first about what was going on. (West) was very calm and was almost downplaying it. He said he wasn’t going to start the game until something was addressed. At that point, he didn’t even mention what happened.”
Marlins pitcher Brad Ziegler, who is on the disabled list with a back strain, tweeted: “I hope they file assault charges for whoever just hit Joe West with the baseball. Absolutely ridiculous.”
The 64-year-old West, nicknamed “Cowboy” Joe, worked his 5,000th career regular-season game last week. He declined to comment after the game.
NEW RECORD
Knebel’s strike out of Riddle in the ninth marked his 40th consecutive game with at least one strikeout, a major league record for relievers, breaking the mark he shared with Bruce Sutter of the Chicago Cubs, set in 1977.
“Forty straight appearances with a strikeout is unbelievable,” Counsell said. “We’ve used Corey quite a bit, too. But he’s answered the bell every single night.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Brewers traded INF/OF Nick Franklin to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named or cash. He had been designated for assignment on Tuesday. Milwaukee claimed Franklin off waivers from Tampa Bay in April. He hit .195 in 53 games. Milwaukee also optioned RHP Jorge Lopez to Double-A Biloxi, outrighted RHP Tyler Cravy to Triple-A Colorado Springs and selected RHP Rob Scahill from Colorado Springs.
HART HONORED
The Brewers honored Corey Hart with an induction to their Wall of Honor during a pre-game ceremony. Hart, who hasn’t played since June 21, 2015, also officially retired after signing a one-day deal with the Brewers. Hart played nine seasons with the Brewers and was a two-time All-Star.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: 1B Eric Thames sat out for the second consecutive game. He’s hitting .169 in June.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Tom Koehler (1-2) will make his first start since May 16. Koehler, who has a 7.04 ERA over eight starts this season, had been in the rotation until being demoted to Triple-A New Orleans earlier this month.
Brewers: Zach Davies (8-4) is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins. Davies pitched seven shutout innings in his last start on Sunday at Atlanta.
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