Bullpen wastes Straily’s start

MIAMI — Dan Straily did everything asked of him on the mound and more than expected with the bat Tuesday.

Thanks to his efforts, the Miami Marlins were set up for a series tying win against the Cardinals at Marlins Park. But little has gone smoothly for the Marlins lately, and Tuesday was no different.

Handed a four-run lead in the eighth inning, reliever Kyle Barraclough gave it all back while retiring only one hitter in the inning.

The Cardinals completed the comeback in the ninth with the aid of a throwing error by Marlins closer A.J. Ramos that sent Miami to another stinging loss, 6-5.

Pinch-hitter Dexter Fowler drove in the decisive run with a line-drive single to right. But it was Ramos’ error on a throw he shouldn’t have attempted that set it up.

Ramos deflected Magneuris Sierra’s comebacker to the mound with his glove, then uncorked a wild throw that sent the runner to second.

The previous inning the Marlins were six outs away from victory with a 5-1 lead after a strong start by Straily.

Barraclough, who had given up only two runs in 13 appearances this season, faced six batters and gave up three hits and two walks in the eighth. Brad Ziegler, whose late-inning meltdown was instrumental in the Marlins turning a sevenrun lead into a defeat Friday at New York, served the tying two-run single to Jedd Gyorko (both runs charged to Barraclough).

The pregame chatter was about the oddity of pitcher Straily batting in the eighth spot in the order. The righthander came into the game with one career hit in 62 atbats (.016).

Which made it all the more surprising when the Marlins attempted a suicide squeeze bunt with a 3-2 count on Straily in the fifth inning. With Derek Dietrich racing for home, Straily laid the bunt down neatly to the right side for a perfectly executed sacrifice to drive in the tying run.

Dietrich would deliver a bigger blow an inning later with a two-run double to spark a four-run rally. Dietrich’s double into the rightfield corner came off lefty reliever Brett Cecil, who was summoned with three consecutive left-handed hitters coming up.

Justin Bour followed with another run-scoring hit and J.T. Riddle completed the allleft trifecta with a sacrifice fly.

It was then up to Straily to deliver the game to the bullpen to finish off. He did his part in completing seven innings, matching a season high, allowing one run and three hits. He walked one and struck out five on 91 pitches (61 strikes).

The RBI was only the second of Straily’s career in 80 plate appearances. He has shown to be an effective bunter with 11 sacrifices last season while with the Reds.

The Marlins unveiled an unorthodox lineup with Dee Gordon, the usual leadoff hitter, in the No. 9 spot, catcher J.T. Realmuto moving to the top. Straily joined Dontrelle Willis and David Phelps as the only Marlins starting pitchers to bat anywhere but ninth.

As karma would have it, Gordon, who has been struggling at the plate, delivered the first it by either team with two outs in the third.

For the second consecutive night, the Marlins clashed with the umpire crew over balls-and-strikes. Mattingly was ejected both nights, Tuesday’s coming in the bottom of the first inning on the heels of Christian Yelich getting the heave-ho after objecting to Andy Fletcher’s strike three call and carrying on the complaint from the dugout.

WILFREDO LEE/AP Miami starter Dan Straily allowed just three hits and a single run in seven innings of work. He struck out five.