D-backs' rally comes up short as win streak ends
MIAMI (AP) -- A late run by the Diamondbacks fell one run short.
Pinch hitter A.J. Pollock grounded out on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded, ending the D-backs' 2-1 loss to the Marlins on Sunday.
"I fouled off a couple of pitches and got the pitch I wanted. He just got it in on me a little bit. I hit it hard," Pollock said.
Mike Dunn, the Marlins' third pitch of the inning, got his second career save. Ricky Nolasco struck out 11 as Miami stopped a season-high seven-game losing streak.
Didi Gregorius had three hits for Arizona, which had won four in a row.
"Early in the game we had a few chances, but we couldn't get the big hit when we needed it and (Nolasco) got stronger," Gregorius said.
Marcell Ozuna broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the sixth.
Nolasco (3-5) was coming off his worst start of the season, when he allowed six runs in five innings in a loss to the Reds on Tuesday.
"Ricky was great," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Coming off a shaky last start, but that's Ricky. Ricky's been solid all year and I really wanted him to finish that game. He looked good and was in complete control."
But the Marlins' all-time wins leader bounced back with his best, earning his 79th career victory. He gave up one run and five hits in eight-plus innings. After hitting Cody Ross with a pitch in the fourth, Nolasco retired the next 14 batters, striking out the side in the fifth and again in the eighth.
Gregorius led off the ninth with a double, finishing Nolasco's day. Closer Steve Cishek relieved got Paul Goldschmidt to ground out as second baseman Derek Dietrich made a backhanded play up the middle. Jason Kubel hit a sacrifice fly that made it 2-1.
"That was a huge play in the hole," Redmond said.
After Eric Chavez followed with a pinch-hit single and Martin Prado walked, Dunn came in and walked Miguel Montero to load the bases before retiring Pollock.
"We had a good finish and I thought we were in good shape with A.J. (Pollock) there," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "It just didn't work out."
Wade Miley (3-3) took the loss, giving up two runs and five hits in six innings while striking out six. He is now 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.
"I felt good out there," Miley said. "I was making pitches and throwing strikes. Just a couple of bad pitches cost you late in the game, especially in a game like that where it's 0-0. You've got to do better job."
With the game scoreless until the sixth, Adeiny Hechavarria and Dietrich singled and Ozuna hit a double off the left-center field wall near the 386-foot sign. It snapped a 14-inning scoreless streak for the Marlins after Brandon McCarthy tossed a three-hit shutout on Saturday in the D-backs' 1-0 win.
After getting nine runs on 16 hits in a series-opening 9-2 win on Friday, Arizona scored just two runs on 10 hits in the final two games.
NOTES: The Diamondbacks pulled off a rare 2-1 putout in eighth when Hechavarria popped up a bunt that bounced off catcher Montero's glove and was then corralled by pitcher Josh Collmenter after he bobbled it with his bare hand. ... Nolasco's career high for strikeouts in a game is 16, set in Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2009. ... The D-backs continues their road trip in Colorado on Monday as LHP Patrick Corbin (6-1, 1.52 ERA) faces Rockies RHP Jon Garland (3-4, 4.89 ERA).