Gordon's Inside-The-Park Homer Helps Marlins Beat Giants 5-3
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MIAMI (AP) — Major league batting leader Dee Gordon hit the first inside-the-park homer in the four-year history of Marlins Park, and the three-run shot helped Miami beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 Tuesday night.
Miami's Justin Bour also homered, giving a welcome jolt of power to a team without injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
Buster Posey hit his 12th homer for the Giants. He has 18 RBIs in his past 10 games.
Mat Latos (3-5) gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings. Four relievers completed a six-hitter.
Carter Capps, throwing at up to 99 mph, struck out the side in the eighth. He has 38 strikeouts in 20 2-3 innings to go with an ERA of 0.87.
A.J. Ramos followed with a perfect ninth for his 11th save. He was helped by a terrific play from Bour, who did a face plant at first catching third baseman Miguel Rojas' throw to rob Andrew Susac of a hit.
Ryan Vogelsong (6-6) allowed four runs in six innings.
The Marlins won despite going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, with Gordon's homer the lone hit. They've gone 2-5 on their homestand while batting 3 for 48 (.063) with runners in scoring position.
Gordon, who came into the game leading the majors with 112 hits, made use of his speed for his first homer of the year to right-center. Right fielder Gregor Blanco chased the ball down just short of the wall and tried to flip it with his glove behind his back to center fielder Angel Pagan, but they missed connection.
Gordon kept running and scored easily with a headfirst slide.
The homer came with two outs in the second inning and extended Gordon's hitting streak to 11 games.
Posey homered in the third. He doubled and scored on a two-out wild pitch by Latos in the sixth to make it 4-3.
LOCAL HERO
Giants RHP Chris Heston, a native of Palm Bay, Florida, received the key to the city from the mayor before the game. The ceremony was to honor Heston for his no-hitter June 9 against the Mets.
ROSTER MOVE
Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans before the game, and RHP Bryan Morris (back) was reinstated from the disabled list. Nicolino, who went 1-1 in two starts, will be replaced in the rotation by ace Jose Fernandez, returning from Tommy John surgery to make his first start of the year Thursday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: 1B Michael Morse (finger) is nursing a tight back but has completed a rehab assignment and is expected to be activated by the end of the week. ... RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) threw his second bullpen session since going on the DL and is expected to begin a rehab assignment around the All-Star break.
Giants: OF Hunter Pence (left wrist) hit off a tee with a fungo bat for the first time since his injury.
UP NEXT
Heston (8-5, 3.73 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday against RHP Dan Haren (6-5, 3.38).
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