Wild seventh dooms Marlins in home loss to Indians

Wild seventh dooms Marlins in home loss to Indians

Published Aug. 3, 2013 10:44 p.m. ET

MIAMI (AP) -- Three times Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond ran onto the field to challenge a call. He lost every argument, and the Marlins lost, too.

Miami gave up six stolen bases and narrowly missed several chances to throw out Cleveland baserunners, allowing the Indians to escape with a 4-3 win Saturday.

"A lot of close plays that didn't go our way," Redmond said.

Michael Bourn had three steals and scored three times to help the Indians earn their ninth victory in the past 10 games.

Jason Kipnis' two-run single broke a 2-all tie in a wild seventh inning, when the Marlins had three opportunities to throw out Indians on the bases and failed each time. Steals led to all four runs for the Indians, whose stolen-base total was their highest since 2000.

The Indians stole two bases against starter Jacob Turner, three against Dan Jennings and one against Ryan Webb, all of which made for a rough night for catcher Rob Brantly.

"You can't put that all on the catcher," said Redmond, a former catcher. "They're taking advantage where Jacob is not real quick to the plate. That's something he's been working on, and Webb's not real quick to the plate either."

The Indians knew it, too.

"We thought we could run a little bit," manager Terry Francona said. "Our speed tonight helped in a lot of ways. We did some good things on the bases, and good thing we did, because the Marlins kept pushing."

Chris Perez survived a harrowing ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. After pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs singled home a run to make it 4-3, the Marlins had runners at second and third with one out, but they held when Brantly grounded out to first base.

"Anything but a ground ball to first, we score a run," Redmond said.

Placido Polanco then flied out to center to the end.

Turner allowed six hits and two runs in six innings. Bourn stole second base twice against him and scored each time.

"With his speed it's pretty much an automatic bag if he gets a good jump," Turner said. "That was frustrating. You could argue that was the deciding factor in the game."

Turner's winless in his past four starts despite an ERA of 3.47.

Cleveland's Zach McAllister took a no-hitter into the sixth but failed to make it through that inning. Cody Allen (5-1) threw 1 2-3 scoreless innings.

With the score 2-all, the Marlins had Drew Stubbs picked off first base in the seventh inning, but he was safe at second when first baseman Logan Morrison made a wild throw there. Following a walk, Stubbs was barely safe at third on the front end of a double steal, and another walk loaded the bases against Jennings (1-2).

Kipnis then lined a two-run single, with Bourn scoring from second when his slide home just beat a strong throw by center fielder Jake Marisnick. Redmond ran onto the field to complain about the calls at third and home, but TV replays showed the umpires were correct both times.

Miami's first hit came on McAllister's 86th pitch, when Brantly singled to start the sixth. He scored on a double by Christian Yelich, and Ed Lucas followed with an RBI single to make the score 2-all and end McAllister's night. Adeiny Hechavarria lined out to center against Allen with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Bourn led off the game with a single, stole second and came home on a single by Kipnis.

Bourn's speed produced another run in the third. He beat out a grounder to shortstop for an infield hit, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and continued home when catcher Brantly made an errant throw to third.

Kipnis tried to score from first when Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out single rolled away from Marisnick, but the rookie outfielder scrambled after the ball, then threw a one-hop strike to the plate for the out.

Notes: Miami's Giancarlo Stanton is batting .191 with runners in scoring position. ... The Marlins haven't given up a homer in 11 consecutive games, a team record. ... More than a dozen members of the 2003 World Series champion Marlins are expected Sunday to celebrate the team's 10-year anniversary.

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