\n\tMIAMI\u2014Unable to capitalize on\u00a0multiple opportunities, the Miami Marlins had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night. The Twins squeaked past them, 2-1, to force a rubber match.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tMore than any other key moment, an unusual play in the bottom of the sixth inning stood out. Miami had\u00a0Jes\u00fas S\u00e1nchez<\/a> on second with two outs and their best run producer, Kyle Stowers<\/a>, coming to the plate.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe left-handed hitting outfielder ripped a liner up the middle that would have easily scored S\u00e1nchez and evened the game at two. However, the ball hit the foot of second base umpire Emil Jimenez. Because the ball was interfered with before passing any of the infielders, in accordance with\u00a0MLB Rule 5.06(c)(6)<\/a>,\u00a0Jimenez was forced to call the play dead.\u00a0Stowers was awarded the single, but S\u00e1nchez was sent back to second base, taking away the tying run.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tEric Wagaman<\/a> would later strike out, ending the inning and keeping the score 2-1 in favor of the Twins.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s kind of a crappy play,\u201d Marlins manager Clayton McCullough\u00a0said after the game. \u201cStowers put a great swing on it, the ball made contact with the umpire. It\u2019s unfortunate the way things turned out, but that\u2019s how things go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tBy the letter of the rulebook, Jimenez made the right call, and there\u2019s nothing to argue for the Fish.\n<\/p>\n \n\tHome plate umpire and crew chief James Hoye commented about the incident after the game to pool reporter Daniel \u00c1lvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen that kind of play in a long time\u2014probably 15 years. The ball went right at his [Jimenez’s] feet. It was one of those ‘Which way do you go?’ moments. He tried to get out of the way, but it hit him on the side of the foot.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tHoye was asked about McCullough\u2019s comments after the game. \u201cI agree,\u201d Hoye stated. \u201cBut that\u2019s the rule, and we have to enforce it. Big situation, for sure. But the last thing the umpire wants is to get hit by a ball coming off the bat at over 100 miles per hour. That\u2019s the absolute last thing he wants.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s horrible luck for the Marlins that was likely the deciding factor in Wednesday’s outcome. The Marlins still had chances to even the score later in the game, but couldn\u2019t due to a great throw by Minnesota\u2019s left fielder, Harrison Bader<\/a>, who gunned down Connor Norby<\/a> at the plate in the bottom of the seventh.\n<\/p>\n \n\tRight-handed pitcher Janson Junk<\/a>\u00a0got the start and had one of his best outings this season. He pitched a career-high six innings. Junk allowed six hits, two runs, no walks, and a season-best seven strikeouts. It was also the first quality start of his MLB career.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe thing that has made Junk so good throughout this year is his ability to pound the strike zone and get early outs,\u201d McCullough said about Junk\u2019s outing. \u201cHe showed it again tonight with six strong innings of pounding the strike zone with multiple weapons.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe 29-year-old right-hander had a 78.3% first-pitch strike rate in the ballgame. Dating back to May 9, he has faced 86 consecutive batters without allowing a walk.\n<\/p>\n \n\tLeft-handed relief pitcher Josh Simpson<\/a>\u00a0replaced Junk in the top of the seventh. After walking the leadoff batter, Simpson rebounded by striking out Ryan Jeffers<\/a> and getting Ty France<\/a> to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.\n<\/p>\n