Brewers drop series opener in Miami
MIAMI (AP) --Milwaukee starter Mike Fiers returned to his native South Florida and made two costly errors.
Jose Reyes drove in three runs and the Miami Marlins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory against the Brewers on Monday.
Ricky Nolasco (11-12) gave up three runs, though only one was earned, and nine hits in seven innings. He was coming off his third career shutout, against Washington.
Fiers (8-7) lasted 3 1-3 innings. He gave up six runs -- four earned -- six hits, walked four and struck out four. The rookie from Hollywood, Fla., said he had left 45 tickets for friends and family.
"There were more that came. It was great. I wished I could have done a little better for my team and for my friends and family that came. It didn't work out that way," he said.
Fiers made an errant pick-off throw that helped Miami score a run in the third and committed a fielding error during the Marlins' five-run fourth.
"I get mad at myself for a lot of things but I put it behind me and go after the next hitter. Those are big plays that I need to make and I didn't make them. It just added to the bad inning," Fiers said.
Milwaukee had a season-high four errors, with Fiers' miscues being the most damaging.
"Those two plays don't happen, I think it's still a close game," manager Ron Roenicke said.
Steve Cishek relieved Mike Dunn with runners on first and second and two out in the ninth and retired Ryan Braun on a chopper to second for his 12th save in 16 chances.
Carlos Gomez hit a two-run home run in the second for the Brewers, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.
"I'm not trying in that situation to hit a homer, but just put a good swing on a curveball and got the ball in the air," Gomez said.
The Marlins' built a 6-2 lead with a five-run fourth that ended on a strange play. RBI singles by Donnie Murphy and Donovan Solano, Fiers' error on Nolasco's squeeze bunt and Reyes' two-run single produced the five runs.
With two out and runners on first and third, Carlos Lee grounded to third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who threw wide of first. Corey Hart caught the ball but missed tagging Lee, who ran past first without stepping on the bag.
Although Solano crossed the plate before Hart tagged Lee, the run did not count because Hart dived and tagged Lee before the diving Marlins runner could touch first base.
"Originally they said it counted, then they got together and they said no. If Corey tags him right away I don't know how it wouldn't be the same play," Roenicke said.
"I don't think I've ever seen that. (The follow-up tag) becomes a weird play."
Braun added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 6-3.
Miami scored a run in the eighth when Rob Brantly scored on Gorky Hernandez's force out.
Miami pulled within 2-1 when Reyes' sacrifice fly scored Gorkys Hernandez in the third. Hernandez reached on a bunt single, advanced to second on Fiers' errant pick-off throw and took third when Solano flied out to right.
Notes: Miami manager Ozzie Guillen began his postgame media session saying he would begin posting on Twitter again. "I'm bored," he said. Guillen stopped Tweeting following the controversy stemming from comments in an interview about Fidel Castro earlier this season. .... Milwaukee selected the contract of RHP Brandon Kintzler from Triple-A Nashville (Pacific Coast League) before the game. Kintzler pitched a scoreless seventh. ... Guillen also said he'll keep Reyes and Mike Stanton batting third and fourth, respectively. "Reyes has been a leadoff hitter all his life, but to me, this is my opinion, it fits us good that he's the third hitter," Guillen said. ... Marlins LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-3, 2.49) will start against RHP Shawn Marcum (5-4, 3.35). LeBlanc replaces Jacob Turner, who will start Friday in Washington. Guillen said he plans to go with a six-man rotation through September.