Cuban slugger Jorge Soler hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and on Tuesday, the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 in the Major Leagues in a National League wild card contest.
Soler sent a fastball off pitcher Lucas Sims (3-3) – ultimately a rout – sending the ball out of range of center fielder T. J. Friedl.
With the win, the Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak and moved within half a game of the Reds for last wildcard spot at the old track.
For its part, Cincinnati is ninth in losing seven of its last eight games.
Miami starter Braxton Garrett (6-3), the winner, allowed two runs and six hits in six innings with three strikeouts.
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Despite walking with two strikeouts in the ninth inning, closer David Robertson struck out Christian Encarnacion for his second save since being acquired on trade day from the New York Mets for 16th overall.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, batters Brandon Lowe and Cubans Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena connected RBI singles in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rais defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4–2.
Fellow slugger Josh Lowe led eighth with triple pitcher Miles Mykolas (6-8), eventually losing.
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Striker Andre Pallante replaced Mycolas and knocked out Colombian Harold Ramírez before Diaz hit midfield 2-1, the first of four consecutive hits. Lowe and Arozarena also bolstered their careers with hits.
Diaz went 4-for-4 and raised his .315 average to .322 as the Rays improved to 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Mexican Isaac Paredes hit his 22nd home run of the season in the seventh inning for ninth Florida.
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The victory went to reliever Jason Adam (3-2), with the save going to closer Pete Fairbanks, who allowed a solo homer Wilson Contreras in the ninth before earning his 15th save.
Mykolas started after serving a five-game MLB suspension on July 27 for deliberately hitting Ian Hupp (Cubs).
He allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings. St. Louis has lost 12 of their last 17 games.
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Boricua Cuban Nolan Arenado gave the Cardinals a 1–0 lead with his 24th home run before the second inning.
– Tuesday’s results in the big leagues:
Phillies at the Nationals 8×4
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Marlins at the Reds 3×2
Tigers to Gemini 6×0
Rays to Cardinals 4×2
Astros in Orioles 7×6
Withstand Pirates 8×6
Cubs to Mets 3×2
Royals at Red Sox 9×3
Tile Guardians 1×0
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