Sunday, July 8, 2012

Marlins Blow Lead In Ninth

    The Miami Marlins finished the first half of the regular season on Sunday as they blew a two run ninth-inning lead to the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 at Busch Stadium. Heath Bell was called in to make the save and failed as he gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. His record dropped to 2-5 and it was his sixth blown save this season.
    Carlos Beltran stuck out to begin the ninth inning. Allen Craig singled to left field and Matt Carpenter followed with a ground-rule double to deep left-center field. Pinch-hitter David Freese walked, Tony Cruz hit a sacrifice fly into left field and Craig scored. David Descalso walked to load the bases for the Cardinals. Rafael Furcal ripped a single to left field as Carpenter scored and Freese beat the tag at home plate for the win.
    With one out in the first inning, Miami got walks by Hanley Ramirez and Carlos Lee off Joe Kelly. They pulled off a double steal as Logan Morrison struck out. The throw by Lopez went by the third baseman and Ramirez scored for a Marlins 1-0 lead.
    The Redbirds evened the game in the second inning against Anibal Sanchez. Craig doubled to deep right center with one out and went to third on a ground out to first by Carpenter. Skip Schumaker hit a single to shallow center field to score Craig.
    St. Louis added another run in the fifth inning as Cruz pounded a double to left field with one out. After Kelly struck out, Furcal brought in Cruz with an RBI-single to left field.
    The Marlins pulled off a one-out rally and retook the lead 4-2 in the seventh inning. Omar Infante hit a ground-rule double to deep left field and then John Buck walked. Victor Marte came in to relieve for Maikel Cleto. Austin Kearns blasted a three-run homer to left-center field on a 2-0 count for his fourth home run of the season.

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