Brewers 10, Marlins 3: Second eight-run inning of series allows Milwaukee to pull away

For most of the second half of the season, runs have been hard to come by for the Milwaukee Brewers, especially without the benefit of home runs.

But for the second time in three games, in a series that wasn’t scheduled to take place at home, the Brewers scored eight runs in one inning Sunday afternoon, and this time without the aid of a homer. This from a team that wasn’t averaging four runs a game since the all-star break.

That "snowman" in the fourth inning allowed the Brewers to pull away to a 10-3 victory over the Miami Marlins at Miller Park, taking two of three games in the series relocated after Hurricane Irma devastated Florida.

In winning two of three, however, the Brewers lost ground to Chicago, which swept a series from St. Louis to go four games up in the NL Central with two weeks remaining in the season. The Cubs come to Miller Park on Thursday for a four-game series, but the Brewers first have three in Pittsburgh, where they are 1-6 this season.

The Brewers, though, are now 2 1/2 games behind Colorado, which lost to San Diego on Sunday, for the second wild-card berth.

"We're in good shape," Ryan Braun said. "Obviously, you'd like to win every game but to win both series we had here at home, we're in a position where we're still in it. We're starting to fire on all cylinders. The offense is getting going again. If we continue to play like this, with everybody contributing, I like our chances.

"Basically, every game is a must win. When you're down four games with 13 to go, you have to basically win every single day. The teams ahead of us are taking care of business, so credit to them."

BOX SCORE:Brewers 10, Marlins 3

NOTES:In-season acquisitions have helped during playoff push

MLB:Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics

After using eight relievers in a “bullpen game” in the series opener, followed by a four-inning start by Zach Davies, the Brewers were in need of a strong outing from Brandon Woodruff, and the big rookie delivered. Woodruff went seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, in his sixth big-league start.

"The bullpen has been used a lot these past few days," Woodruff said. "It was big to go out there and give them a rest. These last few series are going to be huge, so we definitely need them rested up."

But just as important was the two-out walk Woodruff drew in the fourth inning off lefty Dillon Peters, who was an out away from holding the Brewers to one run. Instead, seven more crossed the plate.

Travis Shaw (two singles), Jesus Aguilar (double, RBI single) and Manny Pina (two RBI singles) each collected two hits as the Brewers sent 13 hitters to the plate. Unlike Friday night, when they did all of that damage on three home runs in the eighth inning, they put together six singles, two doubles and the walk to Woodruff.

The big blow of the inning was a three-run double by Domingo Santana, who has lived up to his first name by coming up big on Sundays this season (.391, nine HRs, 24 RBI). The Marlins also failed to field a pop fly in shallow right-center by Shaw that dropped between three defenders for a run-scoring single.

"(Woodruff) has had good at-bats since he's been up here," manager Craig Counsell said. "His first at-bat today, where he fouled off a bunch of 3-2 pitches (before grounding out), it plants a seed in the pitcher's head that he has to be a little careful.

"It was a bunch of little things that got it started. Hernán (Perez) gets a hustle single (after the walk to Woodruff). Domingo's hit broke it open, obviously. It's 10 runs without a home run. That's a good day for us."

Miami responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning against Woodruff, who allowed a double, single, single and double (two RBI for Ichiro Suzuki) consecutively with one down.

Further damage was averted with a fantastic defensive play to end the inning. Pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton hit a wicked grounder that caromed off the glove of Shaw at third to shortstop Orlando Arcia, who made a strong one-hop throw to first to get him.

Now, it's on to Pittsburgh, a team that has lost 10 of 11 but has given the Brewers trouble this season.

"A lot of things are out of our control right now, but at the same time, if we don't win, it doesn't matter what happens on that scoreboard, in other cities," said Shaw, who had three RBI to boost his total to 95.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

• With the Marlins starting a lefty for the second consecutive game, Counsell again had hot-hitting Eric Thames on the bench because of the left-handed hitter’s struggles against lefties (.679 OPS vs. .936 against righties).

Aguilar had struggled of late, batting .203 in August and September with no homers since slugging two in Colorado on Aug. 20.

“I think ‘Aggie’ has been a very productive player for us,” Counsell said. “I don’t think now is the time to abandon that. Against left-handed pitching, he’s done a really nice job this season (.298 BA, .862 OPS).

Those proved to be prophetic words when Aguilar went 3-for-3 against Peters, including the two hits in the big fourth inning.

STAT SHEET

• The relocated series drew a total of 68,983 fans, a commendable total on short notice. The Brewers originally planned to cap attendance at 56,000 because of staffing concerns but boosted that total due to ticket demand after sales began on Thursday.

TAKEAWAY

The Brewers really needed a sweep to stay on the Cubs’ heels but the next-best thing was winning the series. Now, they have to go to Pittsburgh and win enough games to be within striking distance when Chicago comes to town Thursday for a four-game series.

RECORD

This year: 79-70 (43-34 home; 36-36 away)

Last year: 67-82

ATTENDANCE

Sunday: 24,535

NEXT GAME

Monday: Brewers at Pirates, 6:05 p.m. Milwaukee LHP Brent Suter (2-2, 3.66) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Jameson Taillon (7-6, 4.78). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.