Jake Burger blasted a two-run homer in a three-run third inning as the Miami Marlins earned a split of their two-game series Wednesday afternoon with a 6-2 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Marlins rocked red-hot right-hander Taj Bradley (6-5) for four runs on four hits in his five-frame stint. Bradley extended his majors-best scoreless streak to 24 innings after a scoreless first before running into trouble. He struck out six and walked one as his ERA rose to 2.71.
Miami’s Xavier Edwards produced three RBIs, Jonah Bride was 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer, and Vidal Brujan went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.
Marlins starter Roddery Munoz (2-5) allowed two runs on four hits while fanning seven with a walk as the Marlins improved to 8-5 in their past 13 outings.
Jonny DeLuca notched two triples and an RBI, and Christopher Morel homered in his second straight game with the Rays. Josh Lowe was 2-for-3 with a double, walk and stolen base.
After homering in his Rays debut in Tuesday’s 9-3 win, Morel had an encore in the bottom of the first, scorching a cutter from Munoz around the left field foul pole with a 107.3 exit velocity. The newcomer’s 20th homer was also the 20th surrendered by Munoz.
Bride answered against Bradley on a fastball leading off the second, lofting his first homer in a Miami uniform to left to knot it 1-all. It was the first baseman’s second career long ball and ended Bradley’s scoreless stretch.
DeLuca put the home side back up by tripling home Richie Palacios with one out in the bottom half, but Munoz stranded him by fanning Taylor Walls and Alex Jackson.
Palacios (right knee discomfort) left the game between innings after his awkward slide stealing second base.
Miami put up a three spot in the third against Bradley on a sacrifice fly by Edwards and a three-run homer by Burger, his 15th.
Edwards stroked a two-run single in the seventh, giving the Marlins a 6-2 lead. They won for just the fourth time in the past 29 matchups with Tampa Bay.