MILWAUKEE — Avisail Garcia got hold of a Freddy Peralta four-seam fastball and watched as the ball soared through the air at American Family Field in the eighth inning of the Miami Marlins’ series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. The ball continued to carry up the middle of the field, until it beyond Tyrone Taylor’s leaping reach and beyond the ballpark’s center-field walk.
Peralta tilted his head to the ground. Garcia pointed his right hand to the sky as began his trot around the bases, emphatically slapped third base coach Al Pedrique’s hand and celebrated with teammates waiting for him at home plate.
Garcia’s go-ahead grand slam — the first of his career in his first game back at his old ballpark in the first game off his latest injured list stint — lifted the Marlins to a 4-2 win over the Brewers on Thursday to begin a four-game series. Miami improves to 65-91 on the season. The Brewers are 83-73, a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League’s third and final wild card spot.
