Avisail Garcia hit an eighth-inning grand slam against his former team to give the visiting Miami Marlins a 4-2 comeback victory over Milwaukee on Thursday, denying the Brewers an opportunity to move into the final National League wild-card spot.
The Marlins loaded the bases in the eighth against Freddy Peralta (4-4) on singles by Jordan Groshans and Jon Berti and a two-out walk to Brian Anderson. Garcia, who had 29 homers last season with Milwaukee, then sent a 1-2 pitch 411 feet to center for his eighth homer.
Peralta, who came off his second stint on the injured list on Sunday for a two-inning start, was making his first relief appearance after 16 starts.
Milwaukee (83-73) remained a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost their fifth straight Thursday as the Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep with a 2-0 victory. Milwaukee plays its final six games at home, while the Phillies finish with seven on the road. Philadelphia (83-72) holds the tiebreaker over the Brewers.
Tommy Nance (1-3) got the win in relief. Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save in 12 chances for Miami (65-91).
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the second. Christian Yelich singled and Mike Brosseau followed with a single off the wall in right. Yelich continued around to score on a throwing error when right fielder Garcia missed the cutoff. Brosseau scored on Keston Hiura’s one-out double to right.
The Brewers had the bases loaded in both the third and sixth innings but failed to score. Milwaukee out-hit the Marlins 9-5 but left eight on base.
The Brewers wasted a solid start by Eric Lauer, who allowed just one single over five scoreless innings, with nine strikeouts, in his second start since coming off the injured list.
Marlins reliever Bryan Hoeing, who came on in the fifth, left after being hit in the leg with a 110 mph line drive by Willy Adames, the second hitter he faced.
–Field Level Media
