Milwaukee, WI – Down to their last strike, Gaby Sanchez tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning, and a Hanley Ramirez RBI single in the 10th sent the Marlins to a 7-6 win over Milwaukee.
"That was a very important game," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said "It's a good sign because the way we lost yesterday and come back the way we did today is a little light for us. The way we lost yesterday, god knows hurt. This was great for this club."
"It's disappointing," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "I thought we should have won that game today. It came down to thinking it was Randy [Wolf]'s game. Not the last start but before that, we tried to go to the bullpen, and everytime we go to the bullpen, we lose the game."
After the game, Miami made a splash with a big trade, acquiring slugger Carlos Lee and cash considerations from the Houston Astros in exchange for infielder Matt Dominguez and left-handed pitcher Rob Rasmussen.
"He's a smart hitter," Guillen, who managed Lee in 2004, said. "A great hitter who's had a great career. He's the type of player we need. It was a huge move."
Randy Wolf was in line to win for the first time since April 30 despite coughing up a four-run lead, but John Axford blew his fifth save of the season in the ninth when Sanchez homered to right field.
"I didn't get it in enough or I didn't get it up enough," Axford said. "It was pretty much right down the middle. It was a mistake."
Aramis Ramirez picked up two hits, knocked in a run and scored another for the Milwaukee, but he was unable to deliver with two on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
In the 10th, Donovan Solano doubled off Manny Parra (0-3) to the gap in left- center field with two outs. Hanley Ramirez then grounded a hit up the middle for the go-ahead run.
Heath Bell gave up a double to Rickie Weeks with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but retired the next two batters to notch his 18th save. Wade LeBlanc (1-0) pitched the ninth inning for the win, as the Marlins snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Brewers.
"As soon as I gave up a double to weeks, I thought the game might be over," Bell, who blew a save in Tuesday's 13-12 loss, said. "I really felt bad after yesterday. Today is a new day. I wasn't going to let them beat us this game. Even with yesterday, I still wanted to get in there in the ninth inning. The guy's never gave up. They did their job, and I did mine."
After the Marlins picked up an early lead when Brett Hayes drove in Omar Infante in the second, the Brewers piled on five runs in the bottom half of the frame.
After Aramis Ramirez opened the inning with a base hit, Josh Johnson walked three straight hitters to tie the game. Cesar Izturis lined a single up the middle to put Milwaukee ahead. After a fielder's choice brought in another run, Norichika Aoki grounded a base hit through the right side to give the Brewers a 4-1 lead. Ryan Braun capped the scoring with an RBI groundout.
Johnson allowed more than three runs for the first time since May 4, giving up five in five innings, but the Marlins let him off the hook when they tied the game in the seventh inning. Johnson surrendered six hits and three walks in the no-decision.
Justin Ruggiano, who is hitting .418 since June 1, brought Miami within three in the seventh with a solo home run. Austin Kearns worked a walk and Sanchez singled before pinch-hitter Logan Morrison launched a game-tying three-run home run to center field.
"Obviously it was [a mistake]," Wolf said of the Morrison home run. "It probably wasn't the worst slider I've ever thrown, but it wasn't good enough. I don't think I can convey to you how frustrating this year has been. I definitely dont feel as bad as the numbers look. You make a bad pitch, and it goes from a good outing to a bad outing. It's miserable. It's tough. Today is one of those games where I was cruising and things got away."
Aoki, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, started the bottom of the seventh with an infield single. Nyjer Morgan sacrificed him to second and Mike Dunn intentionally walked Braun. Tuesday's hero, Aramis Ramirez, then lined a single to center field to give the Brewers a 6-5 lead.
Game Notes
Braun hit his 200th career double in the fifth inning...The loss snapped Milwaukee's four-game winning streak...Each of the Brewers' last four games have been decided by one run...Wolf is 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA (43 earned runs in 71 innings) in his last 12 games. Wolf has left seven games in that stretch with a lead but was the victim of blown saves...the Brewers scored five runs in an inning for the third time this season...The Brewers have played extra innings for a major league-leading 12th time.
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