Miami Marlins walk off against Minnesota Twins in extras to avoid sweep
Call him Walk-off Harold.
Harold Ramirez, the 24-year-old rookie Miami Marlins’ outfielder, ended the Marlins’ seven-game homestand with a bang, belting out a walk-off home run in the 12th inning on Thursday to lift Miami to a 5-4 win against the Minnesota Twins. It was Ramirez’s second walk-off of the homestand after hitting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth on Friday to seal a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ramirez’s teammates mobbed him at home plate, dousing him with water, powder and Gatorade.
“The water was cold,” Ramriez said, “but I’m very excited.”
Thursday’s victory allowed the Marlins (42-65) to avoid a three-game sweep against the Twins (66-42), who came into Thursday with a three-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. Miami lost the first two games of the series 2-1 on Tuesday and 7-4 on Wednesday.
But that opportunity would not have come if not for a Marlins ninth-inning rally.
Curtis Granderson opened the inning with a walk, Martin Prado singled, Jon Berti hit an RBI double, Brian Anderson walked and Neil Walker hit two-run single up the middle to tie the game.
“That’s who we’ve been,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We’ve come from behind a lot and not necessarily gotten it done. Our guys have played hard every day.
“That effort right there, extremely proud of that.”
The Marlins had just one run on seven hits and had stranded 10 runners heading into that ninth inning.
Minnesota did most of its damage Thursday on two swings against Marlins starter Jordan Yamamoto. Max Kepler opened the game with a leadoff home run to right field, hitting a 91.7 mph fastball that leaked over the heart of the plate.
Byron Buxton tacked on two more runs with a two-out double to left in the fourth that brought home Miguel Sano and Ehire Adrianza. An Eddie Rosario sacrifice fly in the fifth capped the Twins’ scoring.
Overall, Yamamoto gave up four runs while allowing a career-high seven hits and striking out a career-high eight batters. He did not allow a walk for the first time in nine major-league starts. Miami’s bullpen threw six shutout innings afterward.
Ramirez in the second inning drove in the Marlins’ only run before the ninth-inning rally with an RBI triple off the center field wall that scored Castro.
Keller called up
The Marlins called up relief pitcher Kyle Keller from Triple A New Orleans to fill the final roster spot left empty after their two trades on Wednesday.
Keller, the Marlins’ 18th-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, struck out 64 batters while walking just 21 in 33 relief appearances for the Baby Cakes this season. He converted nine of 11 save opportunities there as well.
Rojas injured
Miguel Rojas left Thursday’s game after the third inning with right hip tightness. He is day-to-day.
Rojas ran slowly rounding second base in the third after Neil Walker doubled to right-center field. He reached base with a leadoff single that extended his hitting streak to a season-high-tying nine games. Rojas said postgame he does not believe the injury is serious and is optimistic he will be available when the Marlins start their two-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Rojas, playing his first season as an everyday starting shortstop, is hitting .290 with four home runs, a career-high 21 doubles, 33 RBI and 42 runs scored.
Yadiel Rivera replaced Rojas at shortstop.
More injury updates
▪ Relief pitchers Drew Steckenrider and Austin Brice are set to begin rehab assignments with the Marlins’ Class A-Advanced affiliate Jupiter Hammerheads. Steckenrider, on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, throws an inning on Thursday. Brice, on the 10-day IL with a right forearm flexor strain, is scheduled to throw an inning on Friday.
▪ Pablo Lopez will make his second rehab assignment start with the Double A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Friday. He is on the IL with a right shoulder strain.
This story was originally published August 1, 2019 at 4:24 PM.
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