The Marlins bring the Twins to the brink of elimination with an 8-6 win in 13 innings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Otto Lopez doubled the go-ahead run in the 13th inning as the Miami Marlins beat the reeling Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Thursday night.

Carlos Correa hit a home run for the Twins, who were 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position and lost 15 points on the night.

“We had every chance to win this baseball game,” Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “Our season is at stake and we have not been able to deliver this performance.”

The Twins (82-77) have lost six of their last eight games and are now three games behind the Tigers and Royals in the race for the final two AL wild-card spots. They would be eliminated with another loss or win against Detroit and Kansas City.

“I know how we played. I was here, participated and saw everything,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “We are not eliminated at this point. And I don’t think we can get out of here. I don’t care who is available in the stable tomorrow. I don’t care how we played today. My intention is to be victorious… and see what happens.”

In the 13th, Lopez displaced automatic runner Dane Myers with a one-out drive down the left field line off Scott Blewett (1-1). Griffin Conine put the game out of reach with a two-out, two-run single off Justin Topa.

“We like to play the role of the villain,” Conine said. “We want to be the spoilsports. We said that before we started and we’ve gotten some good wins in this series, which is great.”

Anthony Maldonado (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first career win. Darren McCaughan allowed a run in the 13th and saved his first.

The Twins trailed 4-0 after five innings, but fought back and tied the game on Brooks Lee’s two-run double in the eighth inning.

Each team scored with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.

The Twins fell behind for the third straight game when Jake Burger’s RBI double gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Miami (59-100) struck out Twins starter David Festa in the fifth after allowing singles to four of the first five batters he faced in the inning. The Marlins ended up scoring three runs on RBI singles by Xavier Edwards and Burger and an error by Jeffers, who dropped a throw at the plate.

Correa led off the sixth with a home run that rocketed over the third deck panel in left field. The Twins scored a run in the seventh after shortstop Edwards committed a throwing error.

“It’s one of those ones that hurts,” Twins outfielder Byron Buxton said. “We know what’s at stake and we have to keep pushing.”

NEXT

Marlins: RHP Adam Oller (1-4, 5.06) gets the nod as the Marlins open their final series of the season on Friday in Toronto. In his last start, Oller gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against Atlanta on September 21st. Toronto has not named a starting pitcher.

Twins: RHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will make his final start of the season on Friday against the Oriolers. López allowed a season-high seven runs in four innings on Sunday in Boston. The Orioles have not named their starter.

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