MILWAUKEE – After starter Randy Wolf had been let down several times by the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen earlier this season, manager Ron Roenicke decided to let Wolf have a shot at going deeper in the game to help nail down a win himself.
That didn't work either.
After cruising through six innings, Wolf gave up a the lead in the seventh, and the Brewers went on to lose to the Miami Marlins 7-6 in 10 innings.
"We tried to go to the bullpen, and every time we go to the bullpen he loses the game," Roenicke said.
This time, Roenicke said, "It came down to thinking it was Randy's game."
It wasn't — but the Brewers' beleaguered bullpen didn't fare any better.
Hanley Ramirez hit an RBI single off reliever Manny Parra in the 10th inning, and that turned out to be the difference in the game.
Ramirez's big hit came after the Marlins rallied from a one-run deficit in the ninth, when Gaby Sanchez hit a solo home run off Brewers closer John Axford to tie the game at 6.
Axford said recent poor performances haven't affected the confidence of Brewers relievers.
"Everyone's still up and still smiling," Axford said. "It's just unfortunate the way things are going right now."
After the Brewers left a pair of runners on base on the bottom of the ninth, Parra got two quick outs to start the 10th. But he gave up a double to Donovan Solano, then Ramirez singled up the middle to give the Marlins the lead.
Parra (0-3) took the loss, and Wade LeBlanc earned the win (1-0).
Heath Bell pitched the 10th for his 18th save after a rough outing Tuesday.
It was yet another rally for the Marlins after pinch hitter Logan Morrison tied the game in the seventh with a three-run homer off of Brewers starter Randy Wolf.
The Brewers took the lead back in the bottom half of the seventh, when the Marlins intentionally walked Ryan Braun to get to Aramis Ramirez — and Ramirez delivered a single to score Norichika Aoki for a 6-5 lead. Ramirez hit a two-run homer to win Tuesday's game in the 10th inning.
The two teams were coming off a wild 13-12 Brewers victory Tuesday, when Milwaukee blew a big lead before Ramirez won it in the 10th.
Marlins starter Josh Johnson gave up five runs — all of which came in a rough second inning — six hits and three walks in five innings. Johnson hadn't given up more than three runs in a single outing since a May 4 start against San Diego.
Justin Ruggiano hit a solo home run for Miami, his fifth of the season.
Miami took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Brett Hayes. But Brewers catcher George Kottaras threw out Gaby Sanchez trying to go from first to third on Hayes' single, ending the inning.
But Johnson got in trouble in the bottom half of the second, allowing a single to Aramis Ramirez and back-to-back walks to Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks to load the bases with no outs. Johnson then walked Kottaras to score a run, tying the game at 1.
Cesar Izturis then singled to center, scoring Hart and keeping the bases loaded. Wolf hit a ground ball back to shortstop but the Marlins couldn't convert a double play as Weeks scored for a 3-1 lead. Aoki then singled, scoring Kottaras for a 4-1 lead.
Morgan singled to load the bases again, this time for Braun with one out. Braun grounded out softly but Wolf scored for a 5-1 lead. Ramirez then flew out to end the inning.
Wolf cruised through six innings before giving up the solo shot to Ruggiano to lead off the seventh, cutting the Brewers' lead to 5-2.
Wolf got Omar Infante to fly out but allowed a walk to Austin Kearns and a single to Sanchez. Wolf struck out Hayes — but Morrison pounded a pitch from Wolf off the facade in center field, tying the game.
NOTES: The temperature was 100 degrees at the first pitch. ... Aoki extended his hitting streak to 11 games and made an impressive diving catch to end the Marlins' half of the third. ... Wednesday's attendance was 31,910.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.