Nathan Eovaldi pitched five shutout innings and struck out seven, and the Miami Marlins stumbled in their playoff run with a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
Rafael Devers had a three-run homer, Kevin Plawecki hit a two-run single and Alex Verdugo had three hits for the Red Sox.
Seeking its first postseason appearance since winning the 2003 World Series, Miami is second in the NL East . The Marlins fell three games behind division-leading Atlanta, which was idle.
Eovaldi (3-2) didn't allow a hit until Garrett Cooper's leadoff double in the fifth. Miguel Rojas singled but Eovaldi struck out Jazz Chisholm and Chad Wallach, then retired Corey Dickerson on a groundout.
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A 30-year-old right-hander who was with the Marlins from 2012-14, Eovaldi was lifted after 76 pitches in his second appearance since returning Sept. 12 a stint on the injured list caused by a strained right calf.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth, and Matt Barnes got three straight out for his eighth save in 11 chances.
Jose Ureña allowed two runs, five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.
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Plawecki hit a two-run single in the sixth on the ninth pitch of an at-bat, chasing Ureña with a hard grounder past diving third baseman Brian Anderson. Boston had been hitless in 13 straight at-bats against the Marlins with runners in scoring position .
Devers hit his 11th homer in the seventh, a drive off Johan Quezada.
Miami closed in the bottom half on pinch-hitter Jorge Alfaro's RBI single, Chad Wallach's run-scoring double and Starling Marte’s RBI groundout.
Alfaro homered twice , then left that game after taking a foul ball off his helmet. He was tested for a possible concussion following the game, manager Don Mattingly said.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo RodrĂguez (heart inflammation caused by COVID-19) returned to Boston this week for additional tests. RodrĂguez missed this season.
Marlins: INF Jon Berti (cut right finger) had stitches removed and is working out at the alternate training site.
UP NEXT:
Red Sox: LHP MartĂn PĂ©rez (3-4, 4.33) is to start the opener of a three-game Friday against the visiting New York Yankees and LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-2, 4.76).
Marlins: RHP Sixto Sánchez (3-1, 1.69) is to start one of the games of Friday's doubleheader against Washington. The rookie won his major league debut at Washington on Aug. 22, allowing runs three runs in five innings.
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