Suzuki's 4-hit night helps Marlins edge Rays
MIAMI -- Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-5 -- including a key eighth-inning hit -- to help the Miami Marlins rally for a 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Marlins Park.
Suzuki, making his third consecutive start in place of left fielder Christian Yelich (back issues), has 10 hits in that span, giving him 2,960 hits for his career.
Miami trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the eighth. Miguel Rojas and Adeiny Hechavarria singled against Erasmo Ramirez (6-2) to put runners on the corners with no outs. A sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Cole Gillespie off Enny Romero tied the score.
Suzuki singled to right, sending Hechavarria to third. Hechavarria scored the winning run when Martin Prado hit a one-hopper to the mound that was dropped by Alex Colome, Tampa Bay's fourth pitcher of the night. Colome got the out at first, but the damage was done.
Rojas and Marcell Ozuna each went 3-for-4 for the Marlins. Miami's Giancarlo Stanton showed signs of breaking out of his slump by going 1-for-3 with a walk.
David Phelps (3-2) threw one scoreless inning to earn the win. A.J. Ramos pitched a shutout ninth for his 14th save, silencing a Rays team that had 12 hits on the night.
Brandon Guyer had three hits and three runs for Tampa Bay. Steven Souza Jr. added three hits, and Taylor Motte went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Guyer and Motter both homered.
Rays starter Matt Moore gave up five runs in five innings, while Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.
This was the 100th game of what is known as the Citrus Series. Tampa Bay leads 51-49.
Tampa Bay, which loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, cashed in with an RBI single by Souza and a run-scoring walk by Motter.
Miami answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single by Suzuki, Prado lined an RBI double off the wall in left. Rojas capped the inning with a soft two-run single just over the glove of Motter at shortstop.
Tampa Bay (20-22) tied the score 3-3 in the second on a solo home run by Guyer, who pulled an 82 mph off-speed pitch to left. It was his fifth homer of the season.
Miami (23-21) regained the lead 4-3 in the third, when Ozuna pulled a solo homer down the line in left field. It was Ozuna's ninth homer of the season.
Rojas hit a leadoff double in the fourth and came around to score on a two-out single by Suzuki, who slapped a 2-2 pitch to right to give Miami a 5-3 lead.
Tampa Bay tied the score 5-5 with two runs in the sixth. Motter led off the inning with a homer that hit the back ledge of the center-field wall. With two outs, Guyer doubled and scored on a single by pinch hitter Logan Morrison, a former Marlins player.
NOTES: Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier (fractured left hand) will have surgery on Tuesday and will be out from eight to 10 weeks. ... CF Mikie Mahtook, who was called up from Triple-A Durham on Sunday, started in place of Kiermaier on Monday. ... Tampa Bay recalled RHP Tyler Sturdevant, 30, from Durham and optioned RHP Steve Geltz to the same club. Sturdevant is the oldest Rays player to make his major league debut since Jason Childers in 2006. ... Marlins LF Christian Yelich (back) missed his third straight game. This is the third straight year Yelich has missed time with back issues. ... Marlins LHP Mike Dunn (strained forearm), who threw a bullpen session on Saturday, could return to action next week after pitching in a few minor league rehab games. Miami is the only team in the majors without a lefty in the bullpen.