Marlins Rally Past Rockies For 7-6 Win
MIAMI (AP) — Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs in the first inning, then settled down to set a franchise record for career victories when the Miami Marlins rallied past the Colorado Rockies for the second night in a row Tuesday, 7-6.
Nolasco (5-2) broke a tie in the third with a two-run double off Juan Nicasio (2-2) that put the Marlins ahead to stay. On his third try, the right-hander became the Marlins' sole leader in career wins with a record of 69-53.
He had been tied with Dontrelle Willis for the most victories.
Nolasco gave up four runs in six innings against the Rockies (15-27), who have lost six straight and are off to their worst start since 1995.
The Marlins (24-19) tied the franchise record for victories in May. Their 16-5 record this month is the best in the majors, and they're five games above .500 for the first time this season.
Miami doesn't have pennant fever yet, however. The crowd of 22,242 was the smallest so far at the city's new ballpark.
Left fielder Chris Coghlan preserved the Marlins' one-run lead when he made a running, leaping catch to rob Marco Scutaro of a hit, ending the eighth inning and stranding a man at third.
Heath Bell gave up a leadoff double in the ninth, then retired Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton for his seventh save in 11 chances.
On Monday, Miami trailed 4-0 in the first inning and won 6-4. A succession of bloopers and bleeders helped Colorado score three runs in the first against Nolasco, but Nicasio couldn't hold the lead.
Nicasio gave up six runs, five earned, in five innings and remained winless in his past four starts. Errors by shortstop Tulowitzki and catcher Wilin Rosario led to a pair of unearned runs.
Hanley Ramirez had three of the Marlins' 12 hits and drove in two runs. For the second night in a row, the Marlins won despite stranding 13 runners.
Michael Cuddyer went 3 for 3 with a walk for the Rockies, and Rosario drove in two runs. They went 4 for 18 with runners in scoring position.
Miami scored twice in the first. Bryan Petersen hit an RBI triple and came home on a single by Ramirez.
Giancarlo Stanton doubled home the tying run in the third. With two out, Nolasco lined a 3-2 pitch for his first extra-base hit this year.
Ramirez stole second in the fourth inning, continued to third when Rosario's throw was wild, and scored an unearned run on a single by Coghlan.
Tulowitzki robbed Petersen of a hit in the fourth inning with 360-degree whirl and throw behind second base. But Tulowitzki made a wild throw that led to an unearned run in the sixth when Ramirez delivered an RBI single.
Helton singled home the Rockies' first run. Cuddyer followed with a broken-bat RBI single, and Rosario added a sacrifice fly.
Gonzalez doubled with two out in the fifth when third baseman Ramirez failed to catch his blooper. Tulowitzki followed with an RBI single.
The Rockies scored twice in the eighth off Edward Mujica to make it 7-6. Rosario hit an RBI single, and an unearned run scored when catcher John Buck made an errant pickoff throw.
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