PITTSBURGH — The Miami Marlins' improbable September push will carry into October. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit his 19th home run, Josh Bell delivered a late two-run double and the Marlins clinched the fourth playoff berth in franchise history with a 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
Miami locked down one of the two remaining National League wild-card spots behind Chisholm's drive, a dash of small ball and another lockdown performance by a bullpen that has carried a sizable share of the load over the past month.
A.J. Puk (7-5) and seven other relievers kept the Pirates in check, rendering any scoreboard watching pointless. Miami began the day with its magic number whittled to one following another late comeback victory on Friday night.
One officially dropped to zero when closer Tanner Scott wrapped up his 12th save by striking out the side in the ninth, setting off a celebration on the field and behind the Miami dugout, where a small clutch of fans chanted, «Lets Go Marlins!» in the ninth.