Missed opportunities were once again the theme as the Marlins went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and dropped their second straight to the Milwaukee Brewers on Super Saturday at Sun Life Stadium.
The Marlins are starting to make this losing thing a habit.
Since sweeping the Giants in San Francisco, the Fish have dropped six of eight, including their last three in a row, and despite a fairly decent night on the mound for Chris Volstad, the lineup couldn't hit when it mattered.
Vols gave up three runs in seven innings, and for the second start in a row, he allowed two home runs. Nyjer Morgan exacted some revenge for last season's fisticuffs with a solo shot in the third, and Prince Fielder went deep with one out in the seventh. The Brewers added the game-winning run on an RBI double by Yuniesky Betancourt the same inning.
Yovani Gallardo gave up just one earned run to the Marlins, and it came in the first inning. Chris Coghlan singled to lead off the inning, and with two out, Gaby Sanchez singled to drive him in. Both Cogz and Gaby would finish the game with three hits (in case you're looking for something to be positive about).
The only other run the Fish could muster on a night when they left 9 on base, was an unearned run in the sixth. Gaby Sanchez led off the inning with a single, and after a two-out walk by John Buck, Omar Infante reached on Casey McGehee's the second throwing error of the game, which allowed Gaby to score.
The Fish had other opportunities. They had their leadoff man on base in six innings, but could only squeeze one earned run out of it.
Volstad helped his own cause with a leadoff single in the third, and Cogz singled to put two on, but Emilio Bonifacio grounded out, Logan Morrison popped out, and Gaby struck out to leave them stranded.
Coghlan led off the fifth with a single, but was caught stealing second, and the inning fizzled out.
Gaby singled to lead off the eighth, but never made it beyond first base.
The Marlins lucked out Saturday with the Phillies loss, so they still remain just 2 games back in the East. If they keep playing the way they've been playing the last week, though, expect that number to grow.