Marlins open game with back-to-back homers, walk it off

MIAMI — Otto Lopez produced the game-winning knock in a 4-3 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon at loanDepot park. It was Miami’s MLB-high seventh walk-off victory of the season and second in as many games. The Marlins have won consecutive contests for the first time in June.

Dane Myers led off the ninth with a single, but Tim Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice. Anderson, who was running, advanced to second on Vidal Bruján’s groundout to third. Lopez sent righty Ryan Fernandez’s sinker to right field, where Alec Burleson bobbled the ball. He also was unable to snag Myers’ hit to begin the frame playing deep.

Myers had delivered a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to give the Marlins a 3-2 lead in the sixth, but the Cardinals knotted the game on a run-scoring fielding error by third baseman Jake Burger with two outs in the seventh.

Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez went back-to-back to open the first against St. Louis lefty Matthew Liberatore, who was forced into a spot start when starter Kyle Gibson was scratched just minutes before the game started due to back tightness.

The only other time the Marlins hit consecutive home runs to lead off a game was Aug. 27, 2010, against the Braves when Cameron Maybin and Logan Morrison did it.

Miami right-hander Yonny Chirinos struck out six and walked none across five-plus innings in his club debut. St. Louis scored twice in a 35-pitch second on Nolan Gorman’s solo homer and Brendan Donovan’s RBI single.