Cooper smacks go-ahead HR, Robertson shuts door in win

MIAMI — Manager Skip Schumaker hated to name the series-ending recreation in opposition to the Tigers a ‘must-win’ on Sunday afternoon. Yet along with his Marlins within the Wild Card battle and the Phillies coming to city for a four-game set beginning Monday, his squad actually wanted a victory. 

It didn’t look good early — or late for that matter — however Garrett Cooper’s two-run homer within the seventh helped the Marlins draw back in an 8-6 victory over the Tigers at loanDepot park.

“With a long homestand,” Schumaker mentioned, “winning the first series was important.”

Cooper’s shot with two outs within the backside of the seventh gave the Marlins the lead again for good after Detroit had reclaimed it within the high of the body. Jean Segura’s blast to middle with one out within the eighth gave Miami an insurance coverage run that nearer David Robertson didn’t really want. 

“It’s fun being in a race like this,” mentioned Cooper, whose group pulled again right into a Wild Card place by taking two of three within the sequence. “Every day counts, each recreation issues and each win issues. The entrance workplace has proven they’re going to get some guys to assist us and that makes us wish to play higher and make the playoffs and all the pieces that comes with that. 

“Coming off the All-Star break, maybe guys have been urgent an excessive amount of for the primary few video games. To get this win, win the final one in Tampa, you possibly can type of get on slightly roll.’’

Although many within the stands have been cheering on Miguel Cabrera in his ultimate sequence in Miami, the previous Marlins star did some harm to his previous group as soon as extra. Cabrera, who bought two hits in Detroit’s 5-0 win on Saturday, capped a four-run second inning with a two-run double that gave Detroit a 4-0 lead off starter Jesús Luzardo.

Luzardo was pulled with two outs within the fifth down by that very same rating, solely Miami roared again to life by scoring 4 of its personal within the backside of the inning because the Marlins lastly solved starter Tarik Skubal. Skubal had confronted the minimal by means of the primary 4 innings however with one out within the fifth, Avisaíl García — who was activated off the IL previous to the sport — tripled off the wall in proper to get the Marlins going.

“First game back, huge triple to left,” Schumaker mentioned of García. “You might really feel the vitality ignite us when he bought the triple. It began a extremely large inning. … We wanted to get one thing going and Avi was that spark plug.’’

Garrett Hampson tied it with a double earlier than the Marlins finally took a 5-4 lead within the sixth when Jon Berti scored from third after a wild rundown on a single from García.

“We are just a resilient team, love to fight back,” Luzardo mentioned. “It’s great to see that we went down and they picked us back up. The hitters seem to always have our back and we are appreciative. We’re just trying to keep going.”

Although the Marlins had a lot of good storylines come out of Sunday’s win, A.J. Puk’s continued struggles was not considered one of them. With Robertson changing him as Miami’s nearer, Puk was introduced on with a one-run lead within the seventh. 

After opening with a strikeout, Puk gave up a single and a double earlier than strolling Cabrera to load the bases. Kerry Carpenter’s single plated two Tigers to offer Detroit the lead as soon as extra.

“I think he is going to be fine,” Schumaker mentioned, “however we’d like him to be proper as a result of we’re actually good when he’s proper.’’

Jorge López, one other Deadline acquisition, was capable of put out the hearth and picked up his first win with Miami. Up 8-6, Robertson got here on and wanted simply 12 pitches to retire the Tigers so as. Robertson ended the sport with a strikeout of Akil Baddoo — who changed Cabrera as a pinch-runner within the seventh. 

“It was a big battle for us, a back-and-forth game the whole time,” mentioned Robertson. “Started out down four and for this offense to take care of business, go out there and have great at-bats, drive each other in was fun to watch. It’s a good team. Hopefully we continue to do it.”