Eric Wagaman delivered when it mattered most, lining a go-ahead two-run triple in the eighth inning as the Miami Marlins edged the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The game was knotted 1-1 in the eighth when Wagaman, hitless in his first three at-bats with two strikeouts and a popout, came through with two outs. On the first pitch he saw from White Sox left-hander Brandon Eisert, Wagaman drove a liner to left-center. Chicago center fielder Michael A. Taylor dove but missed, and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. Dane Myers and Nick Fortes came around to score, giving Miami its first lead of the night.
“I just wanted to be aggressive,” Wagaman said. “He gave me something up, and I was ready for it.”
Kyle Stowers had earlier tied the game in the seventh with a solo home run to right-center — his seventh of the season — off reliever Steven Wilson. Stowers has now homered in back-to-back games.
The late rally backed a stellar effort from the Marlins bullpen, which allowed just one hit over four scoreless innings. Calvin Faucher (2-1) earned the win with a clean seventh, and Jesús Tinoco secured his third save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Miami starter Edward Cabrera gave up just one run on three hits across five innings, striking out five. He was matched pitch-for-pitch by White Sox rookie Shane Smith, who continued his impressive debut campaign with six scoreless frames, striking out seven without a walk and lowering his ERA to 2.08. Smith, however, did not factor into the decision.
Andrew Vaughn accounted for Chicago’s lone run, lining a solo homer to left in the first inning — his second in as many games and fifth overall. The White Sox offense managed just four hits on the night and has now lost five of its last six.
Jordan Leasure (0-3) was charged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth.
The victory was just the third in 13 games for Miami, which hopes to build momentum heading into Sunday’s series finale.
The Marlins send right-hander Sandy Alcantara (2-4, 8.42 ERA) to the mound on Sunday against White Sox righty Sean Burke (2-4, 4.35 ERA).
