Fish Wrap: Marlins 6, Rockies 5

When Jason Giambi blasted a two-out two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Rockies within a run, it appeared the Marlins were poised to lose another heartbreaker late.

But when the dust settled, Leo Nunez held on to log his 33rd save of the season, and break the losing streak for the Fish.

On a late night at Coors Field, Anibal Sanchez returned to form against the Rockies and bounced back from his putrid 1 2/3-inning outing against Atlanta last week. He gave up three solo homers for his only runs of the game, and struck out seven through eight innings to earn his first win since June 10th.

While the Marlins couldn’t keep up with the Rockies’ homerfest, their bats did come to life and they chased Jhoulys Chacin after just four innings. Bryan Petersen tripled with one out in the top of the first, marking the second night in a row he had a three-base hit in the opening frame. Mike Stanton followed with a walk, and Greg Dobbs singled in Petersen to make it 1-0, Fish.

Dobbs moved to second on a bobble in center by Dexter Fowler, and the Marlins were set up with runners at second and third for Mike Cameron. Cam singled on a grounder to left, plating both runners, and the Marlins had a comfy 3-0 lead after one inning.

The Rockies fought back in the second, closing within a run thanks to solo home runs by Troy Tulowitzki and Seth Smith, but the Fish would add to their lead off of Chacin in his fourth and final inning of work.

Jose Lopez doubled to left to lead off the inning, and Emilio Bonifacio brought him home with a single. Petersen was up next, and hit his second triple of the night to score Boni and give the Marlins a 5-2 lead.

The bottom of the fourth was shaky for Anibal, who gave up a leadoff home run to Carlos Gonzalez and followed that up by allowing a double to Tulo. Ani settled down, however, and got through the inning without allowing another run.

In the seventh, Mike Stanton added on some insurance with his 28th home run of the season, a solo shot that put the Fish on top 6-3. It would turn out to be a very important run for the Marlins.