MIAMI (AP) — Jorge Soler hit a pinch-hit two-run home run in the seventh inning and the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 Monday night.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Sánchez had two hits each for the Marlins, who have won five of six.
During Soler’s at-bat, first base umpire Lance Barrett signaled Giants starter Logan Webb had balked, allowing Jean Segura to score from third. But the umpiring crew met and ruled no balk occurred.
Segura returned to third and Soler sent Webb’s next pitch over the wall in center for his second career pinch-hit homer and fifth of the season. The shot also snapped Soler’s career 0-for-10 slide against Webb.
“The exciting part of it was that it put our team ahead,” Soler said. “The hitting coach told me today to move up and closer to the plate if I had an opportunity to face him. Perhaps that’s the reason for the result.”
Webb’s outing ended after Soler’s blast. In his first start since signing a five-year $90 million contract extension Friday, Webb (0-4) gave up four runs, eight hits, struck out six and hit a batter.
The right-hander had signaled to third base umpire Alfonso Marquez and second base umpire Charlie Ramos of his intentions to face Soler from a full windup. But Barrett initially was not aware of Webb’s decision.
“Logan obviously has to declare whether he’s going to come from a windup or a set,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “The first base umpire didn’t see that and he called a balk and Alfonso saw that and got the call correct.”
Soler anticipated a late pinch hitting opportunity as the Marlins reduced an early deficit.
“Once the first runner got on base I started warming up in the clubhouse, then I was told to get ready,” Soler said.
Matt Barnes (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh and Dylan Floro followed with a perfect eighth. A.J. Puk closed with a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Marlins relievers blanked the Giants through the final 4 2/3 innings. Andrew Nardi inherited two runners in the fifth and induced a double play to end San Francisco’s threat.
“Our bullpen kept us in the game,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “When your bullpen gives you a shot and keeps you in the game, then stuff like this happens. If your bullpen comes in and gives up three more, then you feel super defeated in there. Credit to our bullpen for keeping us in and giving us a chance to win a game like that.”
The Giants struck first against Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo with consecutive two-out doubles by Joey Bart and rookie Heliot Ramos in the second. It was Ramos’ first career RBI.
David Villar’s two-run double in the third made it 3-0 before the Marlins got on the board on Chisholm RBI single in the bottom half.
Chisholm singled to lead off the sixth then stole second and scored on Luis Arraez’s single.
Luzardo was lifted after 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander allowed three runs, six hits, walked two and struck out six.
MAKING UP FOR MISCUE
Luzardo allowed Ramos to reach in the fourth when he fielded a dribbler and threw errantly to first. But Luzardo atoned for the error by picking off Ramos.
DONE WITH EARLY INTERLEAGUE SCHEDULE
The Giants will finally face more familiar opponents after a heavy slate of interleague games to start the season. Eleven of San Francisco’s first 14 games, excluding the postponed series finale at Detroit Sunday, were against American League clubs. For the Giants, the opener at Miami began a stretch of 13 consecutive National League games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: OF Mitch Haniger (left oblique strain) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. ... OF Michael Conforto (left calf tightness) was available to pinch hit for the third straight game.
Marlins: RHP Johnny Cueto (right bicep tightness) will throw a 35-pitch bullpen Tuesday. ... OF Avisaíl García (right wrist contusion) did not play.
UP NEXT LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 1.17) will start the middle game of the series for the Giants Tuesday against Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (0-1, 4.63).
