Power trip
The Marlins’ Jesus Aguilar reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over the Brewers as Miami took two of three in Milwaukee.
Jesús Aguilar’s hot bat helped the injury-riddled Miami Marlins win a series against his former team.
Aguilar homered for the fifth time in six games in a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. His tiebreaking three-run shot off Eric Yardley with two outs in the fourth inning put Miami for good.
“He’s amazing,” Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara said.
Aguilar, who played for the Brewers from 201719, went 4 of 11 with two homers, four runs and five RBIs in Milwaukee this week to help the Marlins win two of three from the Brewers.
His three-run homer increased his RBIs total to an NL-leading 22.
The Marlins have needed Aguilar’s power to carry them at a time when injuries have decimated their lineup. Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm joined outfielder Starling Marte, catcher Jorge Alfaro and third baseman Brian Anderson on the injured list Wednesday.
“He swung the bat good all spring and started off the season good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He had a little spell there where I think he got a little twisted and got a little turned in. He got himself straightened out, and since then he’s just been homering it feels like on a daily basis.”
With the score 2-2, Miami had runners on first and second when Miguel Rojas hit a comebacker to Yardley, who attempted to start a inning-ending double play. The Brewers got the out at second, but second baseman Kolten Wong lost control of the ball before he could attempt to throw to first.
Miami capitalized when Aguilar drove a 2-1 pitch over the left-field wall.
Alcantara (1-2) struck out four and gave up five hits and two runs in seven innings. Wong’s two-run homer in the third accounted for all of the Brewers’ scoring.
Milwaukee called up Zack Godley from the Brewers’ alternate site to make the start in place of left-hander Brett Anderson, who went on the injured list Saturday with a strained right hamstring.
Godley (0-1) walked five, threw two wild pitches, committed a balk and hit a batter in an eventful Brewers debut. He was charged with four runs, three earned.
He walked the bases loaded but got out of the jam in the third. He appeared to hurt himself on a bunt attempt in the bottom of the third but returned to pitch the fourth, only to leave the game with a bruised right index finger after walking the leadoff batter and hitting the next one.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after the game that Godley is heading to the injured list.