MIAMI– Jake Burger hit a three-run home run and the Miami Marlins scored four times in the ninth to beat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 on Sunday.
Until their last hit, the Marlins were tied on Josh Bell’s RBI double off White Sox closer Michael Kopech (2-8). Chicago left fielder Tommy Pham tracked Bell’s route, but miscalculated the wall jump who scored Vidal Brujan in third.
Jesús Sánchez was intentionally stepped on before Burger hit a 431-foot blast for Miami’s ninth win of the season. Acquired by the Marlins from the White Sox at the trade deadline last July, Burger was a panic-stricken 1-for-14 until his home run.
“Going into the box, I felt like it was a storybook because of my history with the Sox,” Burger said. “I was lucky enough to get a proposal that I could do something with. Obviously it was a cool moment, but I just wish the Sox the best. Every time you hit a home run, you’ll remember it.
Brujan drew a leadoff walk to start the ninth. Nick Fortes then advanced Brujan with a sacrifice bunt toward first base that Kopech fielded and struck him out. But Brujan kept running and reached third place.
Like Burger, Bell overcame recent offensive struggles and went 0-for-21 during the homestead with his extra-base hit in the ninth.
“Burger and Bell, they’re best friends in that clubhouse and they’re working on this together,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “But they are so professional and feel like they are just one step away from getting back to where they should be. Hopefully these two hits will get them back on track and get them warmed up and start carrying us more.
The White Sox squandered three-run leads in the final two games of the series and fell to a major league worst 26-66. This is the second time they have fallen to 40 games below .500.
“They’re all really tough, but those last two hurt really good,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “We lost our share of these and everyone hurts. When you lose some, they start to hurt a lot.”
Brujan walked twice, doubled and ran.
“Brujan had a great game,” Schumaker said. “I thought the baserunning was excellent. He has played very well. I just love the energy he brings.”
JT Chargois (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win.
Tanner Banks relieved White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon and allowed Fortes to double the score and Bell’s RBI got Miami within 4-3 in the seventh.
Cannon scattered three hits, walked four and struck out three in six innings. The rookie right-hander has completed at least six innings in three starts since he was recalled from Triple-A on June 7.
Danny Mendick ended Miami starter Edward Cabrera’s game with a two-run blast that put Chicago ahead 2-0 in the fourth. Mendick drove a Cabrera slider into the left field seats for his third home run.
The Marlins closed the gap in the bottom half on Brujan’s RBI double.
Korey Lee hit an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on Andrew Vaughn’s sacrifice bunt in the sixth, increasing the White Sox lead to 4-1.
Activated from the injured list on Sunday, Cabrera gave up two runs and four hits, walked one and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander had been sidelined since May 8 due to an impact on his right shoulder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Matt Andriese was assigned to create space for Cabrera on the roster.
NEXT
White Sox: RHP Chris Flexen (2-7, 5.08 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game home series against Minnesota on Monday. The Twins have not announced a starter.
Marlins: LHP Trevor Rogers (1-9, 4.91) will start against the Astros in the opener of a three-game homestand in Houston on Tuesday. The Astros have not announced a starter.
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