MIAMI -- Garrett Cooper has made a case to be the Marlins’ regular first baseman in 2020. Repeatedly, manager Don Mattingly has stated first base is the 28-year-old’s best position.

Still, the way he went airborne to rob Hernan Perez in the fifth inning on Monday night served as a reminder that Cooper also provides versatility in the outfield. The extra-base-saving catch was perhaps the top defensive play for the Marlins all season, but it ultimately didn’t change the outcome.

Powered by Trent Grisham’s two-run triple and Yasmani Grandal’s two-run home run in a four-run seventh inning, the Brewers secured an 8-3 win over the Marlins in the four-game series opener at Marlins Park.

• Box score

The Marlins did hang tough, making it a 4-3 game in the fifth inning, following Cooper’s diving catch in the top of the inning.

“Versatility is the name of the game nowadays,” Cooper said. “Especially in the National League. You've got to play multiple positions. It's pretty tough, besides at shortstop or something, you've got to be versatile. Wherever they put me, that's where I want to be. Not playing is not where I want to be. Right, left, first -- whatever to help the team make the lineups a little bit easier.”

Per Statcast, Cooper had a 10 percent catch probability on his 5-star play. The key for him making the grab was his jump, which was 6.8 feet better than the MLB average. Cooper covered 54 feet in 3.4 seconds.

The analytics suggest Cooper made the finest defensive outfield play by the Marlins this season.

“What I've been happy with is his legs have held up,” Mattingly said. “Early on, he had tightness here, and all kinds of little things. We got him back at first enough to kind of get his legs underneath him. His legs have held up.”

Cooper was Miami’s Opening Day right fielder.

In the final weeks, the Marlins' front office and coaching staff are seeing where players like Cooper may fit in for the future. The question they have is whether he will hit enough to be an everyday first baseman.

“The thing with him is, if you're going to be a championship-caliber team, is he going to profile at first?” Mattingly said. “I think it should be left right now.”

The Marlins remained in the game, despite rookie starter Robert Dugger lasting three innings, giving up two runs. But at 77 pitches, the right-hander didn’t come out for the fourth.

Miami is searching for answers on many of its players on the September roster, and one of them is Jon Berti. The speedy utility player got the start in center, and he used his legs to help manufacture a couple of runs in the sixth inning.

After Harold Ramirez’s one-out single, Berti doubled to left center. Aggressively running the bases, Berti barely made it into second with a head-first slide. Miguel Rojas’ two-run single to left trimmed Miami’s deficit to 4-3. Again, it was Berti testing the arm of Grisham in left, racing home from second on another close play.

“We just come to work every day and do our best to stay on top of everything,” Berti said. “The thing about this team is we don't quit. No matter what the score is. No matter what the situation is. We keep on fighting and fighting. That's something we take a lot of pride in."