Down under: Red Sox's rally sparked by bottom of lineup

MIAMI -- There were plenty of cheers at loanDepot Park when a Red Sox player got a hit. Luckily for those in red, the Sox’s bottom of order gave them plenty to cheer about as they topped the Marlins, 4-2, on Monday after a back-and-forth duel.

The bottom third of the order accounted for five hits and three runs, with No. 9 hitter Anthony Seigler delivering the go-ahead run in the ninth.

“They were awesome,” interim manager Chad Tracy said. “They set up innings for us all night. … We created opportunities down there. Like I said, we didn't get some runs early, but they just kept going.”

After Mickey Gasper drew a five-pitch lead-off walk, Seigler laced an 84.4 mph curveball from Tyler Zuber down the right-field line for his first career triple. Eli White -- who pinch-ran for Gasper -- scored as the Sox took the lead.

It was Seigler's first start since Aug. 16, with Nick Sogard having received most of the action at second base lately. But Seigler stayed ready behind the scenes, working with the hitting coaches to simulate in-game opportunities.

“Mick had a great at-bat, so really get him over, get him in scoring position, just get a good pitch to hit, and I mean that's really all I was trying to do,” Seigler said. “It was just a pitch that I knew that I could put a good swing on. Honestly, [he had me] with the fastball, so I just really had my timing on a fastball that whole at-bat.

“Then luckily enough [he] threw a slider in a good spot.”

Seigler has embraced his changing role, knowing that staying ready is part of helping a team that has been playing well.

“[The coaches] help me prepare,” Seigler said. “It's how it is. Everybody's playing really well right now, so my role has changed a little bit, which is fine. We're still winning. … I'm always ready, and I got a great group of teammates and then coaches around me to help me prepare for that.”

Tracy said Seigler's approach at the plate does not change, regardless of how much time he has spent out of the starting lineup.

“He's a ball-in-play hitter,” Tracy said. “You feel pretty good about if you get him up there in spots with people on. Like that, the ball is going to get put in play. So even with the time off, he is still who he is, and he's going to give you a competitive at-bat. But that was obviously a massive swing.”

The Red Sox had created chances throughout the night before finally breaking through late.

They were down a run coming into the top of the fifth when Gasper knotted the score at 1-1 with an RBI double deep to center field. Jarren Duran scored from first after reaching on a forceout a batter earlier.

“It's next man up,” Gasper said. “It's when your name's called, come out and give it everything you got, do your thing, do your job. That's what [Seigler] did tonight. It's no surprise to me. I knew he was ready to play. I always know he's ready to play. When his name's in the lineup, he's going to go out there and do what he does and be himself.”

In the seventh, Duran reached again with a double on a line drive to right field off Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. Gasper and Seigler then drew back-to-back four-pitch walks from Alcantara to load the bases. The Sox were unable to cash in any runs with Sogard striking out before Ceddanne Rafaela flew out to center field.

After Josh Ekness replaced Alcantara to start the top of the eighth, Wilyer Abreu added a double before Wilson Contreras was hit by a pitch. Abreu, after advancing to third when Adley Rutschman flied out to center, scored on a wild pitch by Ekness to tie the game at 2-2.

The Red Sox have won four straight and are now 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the first American League Wild Card spot. The Sox will visit New York for a four-game series after their series against the Marlins. Their 69 runs in the 8th inning are the most in the league and they own a plus 101 run differential.

“There was a lot of execution late in the game that helped us win,” Tracy said.

The backing from the crowd was also special for the players.

“They're incredible,” Seigler said. “They travel heavy with us, which is so much fun. They feed off of us, and we feed off of them. … It's not a home game, but it feels like a home game for us, so they have no idea how much it helps us to have them behind our backs, and it's so much fun playing for the city.”