BOSTON -- Before Tuesday's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, manager Don Mattingly said he looks forward to playing the powerhouse teams.
"Those are the ones you probably get the most information from and see how you hold up," Mattingly said.
Well, in that case, the Marlins' 8-7 loss to the Red Sox, the team with the best record in baseball, gave Mattingly plenty of information. And, likely, just as much reason to scratch his head.
"Obviously the ending was not very good," Mattingly said. "But it was kind of the way we played all night. We got behind a couple different times. I thought we swung the bats pretty good. We went a little flat after we left Starlin [Castro] at third. A leadoff triple [in the fourth] and we didn't score. We were a little flat for a few innings.

"Then we had the big inning late and couldn't really stop them from there. I thought the at-bats they had were pretty good. Couldn't seem to hold them there late."

The Marlins fought back from three deficits in the game -- tying the game in the third on Isaac Galloway's second homer of the season, taking a two-run lead with a five-run eighth and tying the game in the ninth. But they could not claw out a win.
With the Red Sox leading, 4-1, entering the eighth inning, the Marlins sent 10 batters to the plate. It was one run shy of the most runs Red Sox pitchers have allowed in an inning this season, going back to Opening Day against the Rays.

Facing right-hander Matt Barnes, Brian Anderson led off with a single followed by J.T. Realmuto's 17th home run of the season. Castro's solo shot, his 11th homer of the season, gave the Marlins back-to-back homers for the third time this season.
With one out Austin Dean singled, ending the night for Barnes, who was replaced by right-hander Richard Hembree, while Magneuris Sierra pinch-ran for Dean. Miguel Rojas singled to right, and JT Riddle, pinch-hitting for John Holaday, walked with two outs, loading the bases. Rafael Ortega's single to left scored Sierra and Rojas, giving the Marlins the lead.

But in the bottom of the inning, Tayron Guerrero gave the lead back, allowing three runs. Guerrero fought to get out of the inning unscathed. But with two outs, the bases loaded and two strikes to No. 9 hitter Jackie Bradley Jr., Guerrero gave up a two-run single to tie the game before unleashing a wild pitch over the head of Mookie Betts, scoring Ian Kinsler to give Boston the lead, 7-6.
Left-hander Adam Conley got the final out of the eighth, a move Mattingly contemplated earlier to face Bradley.

"[But] I don't think we get Bradley," Mattingly said. "I'm just choosing between Bradley and [Steve] Pearce [as a possible pinch-hitter] in my mind. Maybe they leave him in there. Maybe they don't, but just kind of choosing Bradley there over Pearce."
Still, the Marlins fought back one more time, scoring a run off closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth on Sierra's RBI single.
But with one out in the bottom of the ninth, it was an errant throw by Riddle at shortstop -- on what would have been an inning-ending double play -- that allowed the winning run to score.

Drew Steckenrider retired Pearce, who was leading off the bottom of the ninth and pinch-hitting for Mitch Moreland, before allowing consecutive singles to J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. Eduardo Nunez's grounder appeared destined to be a double play, but after Riddle fielded the ball and stepped on second, his throw to first bounced in front of Rojas and sailed into the camera well along the first-base line to allow Martinez to score.
"I should have made it," Riddle said of the play. "It's a two-hopper. Step on the bag and throw the ball to first. As simple as that, but I throw the ball 80 feet and lose the game.Just a bad throw."
Steckenrider took the loss, falling to 4-3. Kimbrel, who blew the save in the top of the ninth, got the win.
SOUND SMART
Tuesday was the sixth time the Marlins have hit multiple home runs during a single inning this season, but their first time doing so in the eighth inning or later since Sept. 20, 2017, against the Mets, when they hit three homers in the eighth.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Rojas showed off his arm for the first out of the bottom of the fourth. Going back and to his right, a few steps onto Fenway's left-field grass, to chase a sharply hit grounder by Kinsler, Rojas bobbled the ball not once but twice before securing it and throwing a laser beam to Realmuto at first base to beat Kinsler by three steps.
HE SAID IT
"For me, we got a job and have to take care out there and do the things we have to do. Every time, go out there and compete." -- Jose Urena-- who allowed four runs in six innings -- on pitching with extra rest because of his suspension and feeling no rust

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
In the bottom of the seventh, Boston challenged the call on the field after Bradley was called out on a steal attempt of second base. After a 41-second review, the call was overturned and Bradley was credited with his 13th stolen base of the season.

UP NEXT
Right-hander Trevor Richards (3-7, 4.23 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season and second against Boston on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. ET, after making his Major League debut against the Red Sox in a loss at Marlins Park on April 2. Mattingly has seen Richards, who features one of baseball's nastiest changeups, evolve.
"I think he had to figure out how he was going to be successful with his pitch mix. So that's been fun to watch," Mattingly said.
Richards will be opposed by Boston left-hander David Price (14-6, 3.50 ERA), who is 1-3 with a 3.42 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins.