Fish outslug D-backs to keep clincher on ice

September 24th, 2017

PHOENIX -- The champagne that is tucked away in the bowels of Chase Field will have to remain on ice for at least one more night.
The Marlins spoiled whatever party the home team had planned as they beat the D-backs, 12-6, on Saturday night, keeping Arizona's magic number for clinching a National League Wild Card berth at one.
"Not the kind of night you hope to see," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "I just think nothing was really clicking for us. I know that everyone understands what was at stake and what we could have done. It was aligned perfectly, we just didn't close the deal the way we wanted to. But we're very proud of what we've accomplished to this point. We have to reload for tomorrow and make sure that we do this thing right and look forward to turning the page as quickly as possible."
It was not all bad news, though, for the D-backs. The Cardinals' 11-6 loss to the Pirates clinched at least a tie in the NL Wild Card race. The D-backs need to win one more game, or the Brewers and Cardinals need to lose one, for Arizona to clinch a spot.
Much like Friday night's series opener, it was anything but a pitchers' duel as the two teams combined to hit five home runs.

belted his MLB-leading 57th home run, had three hits with four RBIs and set the Marlins' season RBI record, as he now has 125. Preston Wilson in 2000 had 121. added a home run, and the Marlins have now scored 23 runs through two games this series.
"We're not going to roll over for anybody," Bour said. "No one feels bad for you. No one cares what your record is. The other team is going to go out there and try to beat you, so you have to take it among yourselves and go out there and battle every day."
The Marlins capitalized on a pair of errors by Arizona starter to score five runs in the third inning. While the D-backs would pull to within 7-6 in the fifth, the Marlins managed to hold them off while collecting five insurance runs off the Arizona bullpen.

"The Marlins played well," D-backs first baseman said. "They've got a really good team. We played bad and made a few mistakes, and they took advantage of it. It's part of it. We'll come out and try to get a win tomorrow."
Until then, the champagne will remain on ice.
"This really shows you what our guys are capable of," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "I've been halfway critical of our guys because I think we'll do that, [scoring eight runs off Zack Greinke on Friday], and then we don't have that same intensity of focus the next night. That's really what you have to get to, not just individually as a player, but your team has to have that approach."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Record breaker: D-backs outfielder J.D. Martinez continued his tear at the plate by hitting his 27th homer with the D-backs and 43rd overall in the fifth inning to pull the D-backs to within 7-6. The homer was the 14th of September for Martinez, setting the Arizona franchise mark for homers in a month. Luis Gonzalez held the record of 13, which he set in April 2001.

"J.D. sets a club record for home runs in a month," Lovullo said. "It was a great moment for him and for this ballclub." More >>
MVP candidates go deep: Stanton and Goldschmidt are two of the top candidates for the NL Most Valuable Player Award, and both hit homers. Stanton added to his Major League-leading total by hitting his 57th, a solo shot in the fourth. Goldschmidt, meanwhile, got the D-backs back in the game with a three-run homer in the third that cut the Marlins' lead to 5-4.

Stanton finished with three hits, and was a triple shy of the first cycle in Miami history.
"I should have waited it out to see if I could get a triple," Stanton joked. "Not tonight."

QUOTABLE
"I'm out there competing. I'm trying to get the team back in the dugout as fast as I can. Whether they're picking up on it or not, I'm willing to change, and try to be more efficient. I'm open for any criticism and critiques right now." . -- Miami rookie lefty , who gave up five runs in four innings, on the possibility that he may be tipping pitches
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Bour, with his opposite-field home run in the eighth inning, has homered in four straight games, and the Marlins first baseman has 25 on the season.
"Never quitting," Bour said. "This is a lineup that's going to continue and take good at-bats every single day -- good, bad or indifferent. Guys still have enough pride in what they do to go out there and do their jobs, and play these last games hard. We're going to do everything we can."

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW
An overturned call accounted for another Marlins run and an RBI for Bour. With two outs, Bour singled to center, and raced home from second. Yelich did a swipe slide at the plate, and was tagged by catcher Chris Iannetta. Home plate umpire Tom Woodring ruled him out, and Yelich immediately signaled to the bench that he was safe. The play was reviewed and the call was overturned in 41 seconds.

WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins:Dan Straily (10-9, 4.17) will make his 32nd start as the right-hander gets the nod in the series finale with the D-backs on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Straily has logged a team-high 172 2/3 innings. He has faced Arizona once, in 2016, when he picked up a win by allowing two runs over six innings.
D-backs: will get the start Sunday afternoon (1:10 MST) as the D-backs wrap up a three-game series with the Marlins at Chase Field. With one more win, Corbin will set a career high in victories with 15. He made his big league debut against the Marlins in 2012. Preview >>
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