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Brewers beat Marlins on Hart's pinch hit

Sep 25, 2011 - 3:40 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Corey Hart sparked a three-run seventh inning with a pinch-hit, two-run double, as the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers took down the Florida Marlins, 6-4, in the second test of a three-game series.

Ryan Braun had an RBI double in the seventh and knocked in a total of two runs for the Brewers, who won their first division title since 1982 with a 4-1 victory in the opener of this series on Friday.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit a solo homer for Milwaukee, which got an RBI from Prince Fielder.

Brewers starter Zack Greinke gave up four runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked five. LaTroy Hawkins (2-1) tossed a scoreless seventh to pick up the win.

John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth for his 45th save of the year, which moved him past Francisco Cordero (2007) for the single-season franchise record.

"It was a nice ballgame," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We were a little slow offensively but we scored three runs in the first four innings, and of course the big three runs in the seventh."

Emilio Bonifacio and Omar Infante homered for the Marlins, who have lost four of six.

Alex Sanabia allowed three runs on six hits over a four-inning start. Burke Badenhop (2-3) gave up two runs on three hits over two-plus frames of relief to take the loss.

Trailing by one, 4-3, the Brewers scored three runs in the seventh to take the lead. Jonathan Lucroy singled and pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled to begin the frame. Badenhop was replaced on the mound by Michael Dunn. Hart's two-run double found the gap in right-center. Ryan Webb came in from the bullpen and Carlos Gomez laid down a sacrifice bunt. Braun followed with an RBI double to center for a 6-4 edge.

Takashi Saito, Hawkins and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched a scoreless inning of relief before Axford closed the door in the ninth.

Infante's solo homer to left in the first inning gave Florida an early lead. But Braun responded with an RBI triple down the right-field line in the home half to tie the game.

Fielder's RBI double to right in the third gave the Brewers a 2-1 edge.

Bonifacio hit a two-run homer to right in the fourth to put the Marlins back on top. But Betancourt tied the game in the home half with a solo homer to left.

Florida tacked on another run in the fifth to take the lead. Logan Morrison and Bryan Petersen singled and Brett Hayes walked to load the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter John Baker also walked to force in a run, which made it 4-3.

"We've had a lot of innings this season where we just haven't got the big hit or made the big pitch," Hayes said. "We're not thinking about the new stadium or next year. We got four games to go and we want to finish strong. It's been a disappointing year because we're better than our record shows."

Game Notes

The Brewers swept a four-game series in Florida from June 3-6 and have won seven straight and nine of the last 10 meetings...The Marlins will finish last in the NL East for the first time since 2007.