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Braun comes through in pinch, lifts Brewers over Marlins

Jun 4, 2011 - 4:16 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Pinch-hitter Ryan Braun clubbed a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-5 victory over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a four-game series at Sun Life Stadium.

Florida closer Leo Nunez (0-2) came on to protect a one-run lead and gave up a leadoff single to Yuniesky Betancourt. Braun, batting for Milwaukee reliever Mike McClendon (3-0), followed by launching a 1-1 pitch to the seats beyond the left field wall.

"Probably the first time ever in my career I got an at-bat without swinging at all: no batting practice, no flips in the cages, no tee, no nothing," said Braun, who was battling a sore shoulder.

John Axford walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out pinch-hitter Brett Hayes to earn his 14th save of the season.

Prince Fielder also belted a two-run homer for Milwaukee, which has won four of its last six games. Brewers starter Randy Wolf gave up four runs on five hits in five innings.

Gaby Sanchez and Mike Stanton both hit solo home runs for the Marlins, who have dropped four of five. Florida's Ricky Nolasco yielded four runs on seven hits and fanned six over a six-inning start.

"It's a long season. We're going to go through grinds," Nolasco said.

The Brewers struck first in the opening frame, as Fielder followed a two-out single by Corey Hart with a blast to the right field seats. Milwaukee extended its lead to 4-1 on a Casey McGehee sacrifice fly and run-scoring by Mark Kotsay in the third.

Florida, however, pulled even with a three-spot in the fourth. Like Sanchez did in the second, Stanton led off the inning with a home run. Wes Helms hit a one-out single and came around to score on Emilio Bonifacio's triple to center. Two batters later, Chris Coghlan tied the game with a sac fly.

The Marlins moved ahead against Sergio Mitre in the sixth. Mitre, who relieved Wolf, gave up an leadoff double to John Buck. After the next two batters grounded out, pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs put the home team up 5-4 with a single to right.

Game Notes

Nunez blew his second save of the year...Florida batted 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position...Hart collected three hits.