The Miami Marlins failed to capitalize on a few late-game scoring opportunities and dropped the opener of their series in Milwaukee on Monday night, 6-5. Giancarlo Stanton led off the top of the eighth with a double ripped to left off Francisco Rodriguez. The Brewers setup man battled wildness in the inning, throwing nine straight balls at one point. But he got out of a bases-loaded jam when Brett Hayes grounded out to third to end the threat.
The Brewers pounced in the bottom of the inning, as Rickie Weeks led off with a double against Ryan Webb. Martin Maldonado then followed with a single, chasing Webb in favor of Randy Choate. But the pinch-hitting Norichika Aoki came through with a nice bunt single down the first base line that scored the winning run in Weeks. It was the fourth unanswered run scored by the Brewers as they came from behind to take the opener.
The Marlins had built their 5-2 lead largely on the work of Justin Ruggiano, who had a big night at the dish. Ruggiano singled to left in the top of the first to knock in Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes and in his next at-bat, he crushed a two-run shot to left for the three-run lead. But the Miami scoring would end there in the top of the third as Milwaukee slowly got back into it, setting up the frustrating eighth.
Miami will try to even up the four-game series on Tuesday night with Anibal Sanchez on the mound.
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