D-backs blow late lead to Marlins, drop first series of year

MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez hit a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the seventh inning and the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Saturday.

Avisaíl García had two hits and Garrett Hampson homered for the Marlins, who won their fourth straight.

Scott McHugh (0-2) relieved Arizona starter Ryne Nelson to start the seventh and allowed García’s leadoff double. García scored on Jean Segura’s one-out RBI single that tied it at 2-2. Nick Fortes’ single advanced Segura to third before Arraez’s bloop single landed in center.

Arraez didn’t start for the second straight game because of a left index finger laceration but was available to pinch hit.

Gabriel Moreno’s RBI single in the top half put the Diamondbacks ahead. Corbin Carroll hit a leadoff double against Matt Barnes and advanced on a balk by the Marlins reliever. Andrew Nardi (1-1) relieved Barnes after Moreno reached and got two outs around two walks that loaded the bases. Huascar Brazoban followed and pitched a perfect eight. Tanner Scott closed with a perfect ninth for his first save.

Nelson allowed one run and five hits and struck out four in six innings.

Christian Walker’s sacrifice fly in the first gave Arizona an early lead. Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch and advanced on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s one-out double before Walker’s fly ball to left gave the Diamondbacks their first run of the series.

The Marlins tied it on Hampson’s solo shot in the fifth. Hampson hit a 3-2 pitch from Nelson that landed inside the foul pole in left for his first homer.

Miami starter Braxton Garrett was lifted after Walker’s two-out single in the sixth. The left-hander gave up one run and four hits, struck out five, walked one and hit a batter.

EARLY INJURY SCARES

Training staffs from both clubs had a busy first inning. Marte needed assistance after getting plunked on the right foot by a slider from Garrett. Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. favored his right leg when he collided with the wall while chasing Gurriel’s double.

In the bottom half, Diamondbacks catcher Moreno also required a visit from team trainers after García’s bat struck his glove hand.

TRAINERS ROOM

Diamondbacks: C Carson Kelly (right forearm fracture) continues in the treatment phase but has started to play catch. He could resume light baseball activities next week.

Marlins: OF Jorge Soler (low back tightness) didn’t play after exiting in the seventh inning Friday. … INF Joey Wendle (strained right intercostal) is hitting off the tee and doing defensive drills.

UP NEXT

RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 4.58) will start the final game of the series for the Diamondbacks on Sunday and will face former minor league teammate RHP Sandy Alcantara (1-1, 5.79). Gallen and Alcantara were in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before being dealt for Marcell Ozuna after the 2017 season. Gallen subsequently was traded to Arizona for Chisholm.