Esteury Ruiz hits 3-run double in 11th to lift Marlins to 4-2 win, damaging D-backs’ playoff hopes

PHOENIX (AP) — Esteury Ruiz scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to propel the Miami Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, severely damaging the Diamondbacks' playoff prospects. Ruiz's powerful hit propelled Otto Lopez, Jared Serna, and Kyle Stowers across the plate, marking just the Marlins' fifth hit throughout the game.

The Diamondbacks narrowly had a chance to secure a game in the National League wild-card race following the San Diego Padres' defeat to Colorado, but they remained 2½ games behind the final playoff position with 10 opportunities remaining. With two outs in the 11th, Ruiz blasted a sinker from reliever Taylor Clarke (2-4) into the left-center gap, driving in all three run scorers.

The Diamondbacks nearly clinched the win in the 10th inning, but Geraldo Perdomo was caught at home by Serna on a ground ball to second base by Ryan Waldschmidt. Miami's Josh Ekness (2-3) delivered two innings of relief pitching to secure the win. Arizona's Ketel Marte hit an RBI double with two outs in the 11th to narrow the deficit to 4-2, but Gabriel Moreno grounded out to finish the contest.

Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka allowed one run over five innings, striking out six, including a streak of five strikeouts in a row during the second and third innings. Arizona took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on Moreno's solo home run that traveled 431 feet into the left-center seats, his 14th long ball of the season.

Miami responded in the fourth when Griffin Conine's solo homer to right-center fielded the game. Arizona's Nolan Arenado exited early due to right thumb inflammation, and the Diamondbacks will send RHP Merrill Kelly (9-13, 4.97 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday, while the Marlins counter with RHP Ryan Gusto (1-5, 4.14).