Otto Lopez and Liam Hicks reached historic milestones before a relentless eight-run tenth inning propelled Miami past Tampa Bay in a record-breaking display of late-game power.
40 plus 60 equals a 100 percent chance of victory.
Otto Lopez became the first to reach 60 hits in baseball and Liam Hicks became the first to drive in 40 runs. Both hitters were instrumental in the Miami Marlins beating the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 in 10 innings on Saturday.
Jakob Marsee led the Marlins at the plate with a 3-for-4 night, which raised his batting average to .204 on the season. Marsee, who struggled throughout the start of the season, has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with two home runs and three stolen bases in the last seven games.
After entering the weekend 0-2 in extra-inning games, it was about time the Marlins had some luck their way. After former Marlin and current Rays catcher Nick Fortes tied the game in the ninth inning, the Marlins poured eight runs on Tampa Bay to secure the win. The last team to score eight runs in the 10th inning was the Colorado Rockies in 2012.
Liam Hicks drove in two runs on a sharp single to right field to start the offensive barrage in the 10th. Hicks finished the game with a 2-for-5 night and two RBI.
A sacrifice fly by Otto Lopez scored Edwards, who drew a walk after Joe Mack led off the inning with a single. Lopez went 2-for-4 to reach 60 hits before anyone else in baseball.
With the bases loaded, Connor Norby drove in a run on a single, and Javier Sanoja cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it a 9-2 ballgame. Sanoja, whose first double gave the Marlins their first lead of the game in the eighth, led the Fightin’ Fish with 4 RBI.
Sanoja scored on a single by Esteury Ruiz to round out the rally. Ruiz actually came into the game as a pinch runner and started the inning as the ghost runner on second base.
Ruiz replaced Heriberto Hernández, who earlier came into the game as a pinch hitter for Owen Caissie and hit a solo home run to tie the game 1-1 in the seventh inning.
Although he had to settle for another no-decision, Sandy Alcantara turned in another ace performance in what started as a pitcher’s duel. He allowed only one run on seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings.
Rays pitcher Nick Martinez was just as impressive, throwing six scoreless innings with four strikeouts to lower his ERA to 1.51 on the season.
Despite blowing his second save of the season, Pete Fairbanks received the win in his first game back at Tropicana Field and his first appearance since returning from the injured list.
The Marlins will once again try to secure a road series win on the final day. Eury Perez (2-5, 4.94 ERA) will take the mound on Sunday as Tampa Bay will counter with Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 3.16 ERA).
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