Marlins' Woes Continue With 7-1 Loss To Blue Jays
MIAMI (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking homer in the top of the ninth and Colby Rasmus had a grand slam later in the inning, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Encarnacion led off the ninth with his 21st home run off Steve Cishek (4-1) to break a 1-all tie.
After Jeff Mathis laid down a bunt that Cishek mishandled allowing Reed Johnson to score for a 3-1 lead, Rasmus connected on his third career grand slam off Edward Mujica.
The Blue Jays scored six times and sent 11 batters to the plate while breaking it open in the ninth.
Darren Oliver (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Blue Jays, who have won six of eight.
Miami has lost six straight and 15 of 17 overall.
The Marlins' late rally spoiled a strong outing by starter Josh Johnson, who allowed just one run and two hits in seven innings while striking out seven and walking two. Johnson is 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in his last nine starts.
Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil allowed one run and five hits in six innings.
The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the second without recording a hit. Encarnacion and Johnson walked to open the inning followed by a sacrifice by Yunel Escobar. Rajai Davis also laid down a successful bunt that allowed Encarnacion to score as the throw home was not in time.
Escobar recorded Toronto's first hit leading off the fifth with a single to left. Davis followed with another single. With two outs, Brett Lawrie hit a deep fly to center field, which was caught by Justin Ruggiano in spectacular fashion. Ruggiano caught it while diving toward the center field wall to rob Lawrie of an extra-base hit and prevented both runs from scoring.
Ruggiano provided a spark in the lineup as well. He led off the seventh with a bunt single and scored on a double by Omar Infante down the left field line, tying the game at 1 and ending Cecil's outing.
Jason Frasor relieved Cecil and retired the next three batters, including striking out Greg Dobbs to end the inning leaving Infante stranded at third.
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