Hommaker

Nick Gordon, Jesús Sánchez homer to lead Marlins to 6-4 series-clinching win over Mariners

Nick Gordon, Jesús Sánchez Homer to Lead Marlins to 6-4 Series-Clinching Win Over Mariners
MIAMI (AP) — Nick Gordon and Jesús Sánchez homered, leading the Miami Marlins to a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed with two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who clinched the three-game series against the AL West-leading Mariners.
A.J. Puk (1-8) relieved Marlins starter Kyle Tyler at the start of the fifth inning and threw two perfect innings. Tyler allowed two runs and three hits over the first four frames.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker explained that the decision to lift Tyler after 65 pitches and a 6-2 lead was influenced by the Mariners lineup turning over for the third time in the fifth inning.
“We had the benefit of having three lefties in the bullpen,” Schumaker said. “And when you have the lead, you go to your strength. Our strength is our bullpen. He did enough to put us in a position to win, and our offense put us in position, then we go to our strength.”
The Mariners closed the gap to 6-4 with Ryan Bliss’ RBI groundout off Huascar Brazoban and J.P. Crawford’s run-scoring single against Andrew Nardi in the seventh.
Marlins closer Tanner Scott allowed a leadoff single to Mitch Garver and walked Cal Raleigh in the ninth. Bliss flied out to medium center, and Crawford struck out before Dylan Moore singled to right, loading the bases. Miami second baseman Otto López leaped and caught Julio Rodriguez’s line drive for the final out, securing Scott’s ninth save.
The 27-year-old Tyler made his first major league start after being selected from Triple-A Jacksonville. He replaced Braxton Garrett, Sunday’s scheduled starter, who went on the injured list due to a left forearm flexor strain. Tyler had made one relief appearance with Miami on April 26 during an earlier call-up.
Tyler used a perfect opening inning as motivation for the remainder of his outing.
“That was incredible,” Tyler said. “Just to know that lineup is very dangerous, they can swing the bat really well, and to be able to go three up and three out feels good.”
Seattle (45-35) dropped to 2-4 on its nine-game road trip and 18-23 away from home.
“Just the consistency on the road hasn’t been there,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “A lot of games to go. You’re going to have ups and downs throughout the course of the season. This trip has been a struggle for us. Wipe this one off and get to Tampa.”
Gordon’s three-run homer against Mariners starter Bryce Miller capped a four-run first inning. Jake Burger put Miami on the board with an RBI single.
“Honestly, just get a ball that I could drive,” Gordon said of his approach. “Had a good at-bat, not too much thinking.”
Chisholm’s run-scoring single in the second made it 5-0.
“We know how hard it is to play from behind, and when you get that early lead on the other team, it’s hard to come back,” Chisholm said. “They have one of the best rotations in the league, and we have to jump on them early and get to their bullpen.”
Sánchez connected off Miller (6-6) with a solo blast in the third. Sánchez’s 429-foot drive landed in the seats in right-center field for his seventh homer.
Seattle narrowed the gap with Luke Raley’s ninth homer, a two-run shot, in the fourth.
Miller gave up six runs and six hits while striking out three in four innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Transferred LHP Jesús Luzardo (lumbar stress reaction) and RHP Edward Cabrera (right shoulder impingement) to the 60-day injured list. ... RHP Shaun Anderson, who started Saturday’s game, was optioned to Jacksonville.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (3-1, 1.67) will start the opener of a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Monday. The Rays have not announced a starter.
Marlins: RHP Roddery Muñoz (2-2, 5.76) will start Monday when Miami opens a three-game set at Kansas City. LHP Cole Ragans (4-5, 3.13) will start for the Royals.
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NEXT: Springboks overcome battling Wales and pull away to win 41-13 at Twickenham

```html LONDON (AP) — Depleted Wales produced a battling performance before Rugby World Cup champion South Africa turned on the power to triumph 41-13 at Twickenham on Saturday. Despite conceding two tries and collecting two yellow cards in the first 15 minutes, Wales defied the pre-match predictions by making it a contest until two late Springboks converted tries. Wales’ list of absentees — players injured, unavailable, or rested — ran into double figures, and it was widely expected to suffer a crushing defeat. But it trailed only 14-13 at halftime following a try for outstanding captain Dewi Lake, with flyhalf Sam Costelow adding two penalties and a conversion. The Springboks, who are building for a two-test home series against Six Nations champion Ireland next month, often struggled to impose themselves in their first outing since retaining the World Cup eight months ago. There were touchdowns for center Jesse Kriel, wings Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe, and hooker Bongi Mbonambi, plus a penalty try, while newcomers Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu landed six goalkicks. South Africa ultimately scored 27 second-half points without reply, yet Wales will take a considerable amount of confidence on tour to Australia despite suffering a seventh consecutive defeat dating to the World Cup. “We have new coaches and had a few players making their debuts, so there were areas of the game that were not as good as we would have liked them to be, but there was certainly no lack of effort and intensity, and we realize it will take time for things to come together nicely,” Boks coach Rassie Erasmus said. “The important thing is that we achieved our goal and the (four) players who made their debuts showed that they are capable of playing at this level.” The Springboks went ahead inside four minutes when a sweeping attack was finished by Kriel, and another surge featuring No. 8 Evan Roos prompted a professional foul by Wales wing Rio Dyer, who was sin-binned. South Africa attacked from a close-range lineout and referee Chris Busby awarded a penalty try after Wales No. 8 Aaron Wainwright illegally pulled down the maul. Wainwright was yellow-carded, Wales was down to 13 men, and South Africa led 14-3. Wales didn’t concede, though. When Boks fullback Aphelele Fassi was yellow-carded after his boot caught flanker Taine Plumtree in the face, South Africa could not clear the danger and Lake pounced for an opportunist converted try, making it 14-10. A second Costelow penalty meant South Africa led by just a point. Wales lost tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti, a late starter, to injury at halftime and will hope it's not serious for their tour. South Africa struck two minutes into the second half after giving Mapimpi an overlap to score, and Hendrikse kicked a long-range penalty. His replacement Feinberg-Mngomezulu settled South Africa's nerves by slotting another penalty from inside his own half, and they led by 14 points. The quality of the Springboks bench began to take a toll, and Wales was powerless to prevent Mbonambi crashing over, and new wing Van der Merwe breaking clear five minutes from time. “The last 20 or 30 minutes, there was just too much class from the South Africans,” Lake told broadcaster S4C. “We know what South Africa brings, they’re a physical team, and you have to stand up to that. We did for one half.” ```

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