Marlins rally in 6th to take opener from Diamondbacks
MIAMI (AP) -- The Marlins' new fog machine made it tough to see from one side of the clubhouse to the other, and they also cranked up strobe lights and dance music after Tuesday's victory, hoping to establish a celebratory ritual in Miami.
They haven't played well at Marlins Park this year, but that changed with a 7-4 victory over Arizona. Ichiro Suzuki's two-run pinch-hit single put Miami ahead in the sixth inning, and Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich homered.
The Marlins climbed above .500 (13-12) but began a homestand by winning for only the third time in 10 home games this season.
Cue the fog machine.
"Just a cool little thing to do after we win," Yelich said. "We haven't been winning too much at home, but that's going to change hopefully."
Miami trailed 4-1 before scoring four runs in the sixth, when three Arizona pitchers combined to give up three walks and a hit batsman.
"Very disappointing. We had it right in front of us," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "It got tough when you walk two guys in a row. You have to have somebody throwing strikes."
Suzuki's one-out single put Miami up 5-4 and improved his career average with the bases loaded to .383.
Ozuna hit a two-run homer, his third in as many games. Yelich drove in two runs with a fielder's choice and his fourth homer at cavernous Marlins Park in four major league seasons.
"I don't hit too many of them at home, so you've got to enjoy the ones you do," he said.
Arizona's Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer off Justin Nicolino (2-0), who won despite allowing four runs in six innings. A.J. Ramos pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
The Marlins have won eight of their past nine games. Arizona, starting a nine-game trip, has lost four straight.
Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings. Andrew Chafin (0-1) failed to throw a strike, walked the only two batters he faced, and both scored.
The Marlins' Martin Prado, who came into the game leading the majors in batting, went 1 for 5 to drop his average to .398.
NEW LEADOFF MAN
Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto batted leadoff for the first time in his career, filling in for the suspended Dee Gordon. Manager Don Mattingly's lineup experiment paid off when Realmuto doubled and scored in the first.
Realmuto is batting .485 during an eight-game hitting streak.
"Once you get rolling you've just got to ride that hot streak as long as you can," he said. "I feel confident at the plate, and right now I feel like from top to bottom everybody is feeling the same way on this team."
BEYONCE'S LEGACY
The game was the first at Marlins Park since a Beyonce concert last week that drew a sellout crowd of 36,000 for the start of her tour. Following the show, the Marlins re-sodded center field as planned, which left seams that are expected to disappear by the end of the homestand.
ROSTER MOVE
Before the game, the Marlins recalled RHP Nefi Ogando from Triple-A New Orleans.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Miami: 1B Justin Boar dislocated the little finger on his left hand sliding into a base in the eighth inning. X-rays were negative, but he'll be re-examined Wednesday.
Arizona: INF Jean Segura, who leads the majors with 37 hits, sat out because of a sore hip. He was available off the bench and is expected to start Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez (2-2, 4.08) is scheduled to start Wednesday against Rubby De La Rosa (3-3, 4.18), who has won his past three starts. Fernandez is 18-1 at Marlins Park.
