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Marlins defeat Rays with late rally

May 21, 2011 - 4:04 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Gaby Sanchez's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning was the go-ahead run that helped the Florida Marlins scratch out a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a three-game interleague set.

Mike Stanton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI while Logan Morrison also hit a solo shot and drove in two for the Marlins, who snapped a two-game slide.

Anibal Sanchez went seven innings in the start for Florida and gave up three runs on six hits with a walk with six strikeouts. Michael Dunn (4-2) got the win for pitching a scoreless eighth.

Matt Joyce had two triples, two RBI and a run scored while Casey Kotchman also drove in a run for the Rays, who have dropped three of four.

Starter Andy Sonnanstine went just five innings and was charged with three runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Joel Peralta (1-3) was tagged with the loss for giving up two runs in the eighth.

Going into the bottom of the eighth with the score tied, the Marlins got a leadoff single from Hanley Ramirez and Morrison followed with a double. Gaby Sanchez's sac fly plated the go-ahead score and Stanton added a sac fly later in the inning for a 5-3 lead.

"The games we've been losing have been neck-and-neck in the sixth, seventh inning," said Stanton. "So this was good that we stayed strong and got the win."

Leo Nunez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his 16th save of the season.

Tampa Bay took the initial lead in the game as Joyce's triple in the first scored John Jaso and Johnny Damon, both of whom reached base on singles, for a 2-0 lead.

Morrison scored Chris Coghlan on a groundout in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit in half.

Solo homers from Morrison and Stanton in the fourth pushed Florida ahead.

"The pitch to Morrison I'd really like to have back," said Sonnanstine. "The one to Stanton, I hit my spot with a cutter. I just have to tip my cap to him. I didn't expect that (homer)."

The Rays tied the game in the seventh on a Kotchman single that scored Joyce, who tripled with one out.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay center fielder B.J. Upton left the game with a tight left buttocks and was replaced by Justin Ruggiano, who made his season debut and went 0- for-2 with a walk...Florida took four of six from Tampa Bay last season...David Price pitches for Tampa Bay on Saturday while Javier Vazquez will take the mound for Florida.