Heriberto Hernandez slugged a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer during a crucial four-run fourth inning as the host Miami Marlins defeated San Francisco 6-3 on Saturday.
Max Meyer, bidding for an All-Star berth, improved to 8-0 with a 2.80 ERA. He wasn’t at his best, allowing seven hits, two walks and two runs in five innings. But he struck out seven, and Pete Fairbanks capped another strong effort by the bullpen as he picked up his 11th save of the season.
The Marlins (39-38) moved over .500 for the first time since April 13. The Marlins, who will try for a sweep on Sunday, have won five of their past six series. They also have the best record in the majors this month at 13-4.
The Giants were led by Casey Schmitt, who hit his 16th homer of the season. He also had two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Jung Hoo Lee went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs.
But San Francisco played sloppy baseball, making four errors in the first four innings.
Giants starter Trevor McDonald (2-5) contributed to the issues as he hit three batters and walked three in three innings. He also missed touching first base on a grounder to the right side, which cost him a run. For the game, he allowed five runs — three earned.
Miami opened the scoring in the first on an unearned run. Otto Lopez reached on an error as first baseman Rafael Devers missed the ball on a routine grounder. Kyle Stowers followed with a walk. Then, with two outs, McDonald walked two straight batters — Hernandez and then Owen Caissie, who got the RBI.
San Francisco tied the score 1-1 in the second as Lee and Schmitt doubled, and Drew Gilbert poked an opposite field RBI single.
Lee did not score on Schmitt’s double because it initially looked like center fielder Jakob Marsee caught the ball. However, he actually trapped it against the wall, and the ball deflected high into the air.
Miami scored another unearned run in the second. After a Joe Mack single, Esteury Ruiz reached on catcher’s interference charged to Eric Haase. With two outs, Stowers was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Even so, McDonald could’ve escaped the jam except for his own error as he missed touching first base on a grounder by Xavier Edwards.
San Francisco tied the score 2-2 in the fourth on Schmitt’s 414-foot homer to center.
The Giants nearly took the lead as the next batter, Drew Gilbert, doubled on a shot high off the wall in center. Gilbert reached third with two down but was stranded when rookie Bryce Eldridge struck out looking at a high strike.
Miami broke the game open in the fourth. Ruiz was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on Haase’s error, and scored on Marsee’s single, making it 3-2.
Hernandez capped that rally with his two-run homer, slugging a 3-2 slider that was down and in. The exit velocity on the homer was 107.2 mph.
The Giants cut their deficit to 6-3 in the eighth on Schmitt’s RBI double, but they stranded two runners.
