Tim Anderson's RBI single in 10th leads Marlins past Mariners 3-2 for 3rd straight walk-off win

MIAMI (AP) — Tim Anderson singled in the 10th inning to drive in automatic runner Jake Burger and the Miami Marlins rallied past the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Friday night for their third straight walk-off win.

Anderson hit a grounder off Mariners reliever Austin Voth (2-1) on the first pitch that went into left field. Dominic Canzone threw to catcher Cal Raleigh at home, but Raleigh couldn't quite handle the throw and his slight bobble allowed Burger just enough time to slide home safely.

Starter Trevor Rogers struck out five over six innings, while allowing two runs and four hits as the Marlins recorded their MLB-leading eighth walk-off win of the season. Anthony Bender (2-2) worked a scoreless 10th for the win.

Bryan De La Cruz launched a 96 mph fastball from Mariners starter George Kirby 403 feet to center in the sixth for his 14th home run. Josh Bell followed by pouncing on another fastball by Kirby and sent it 413 feet for a solo shot that tied the game at 2.

Kirby had retired 16 straight before the consecutive homers. It was the Marlins' second straight game with back-to-back home runs and sixth overall this season.

Kirby allowed five hits over seven innings, struck out five and walked none.

Ryan Bliss was 3 for 3 with a pair of singles for the Mariners. His RBI triple off Rogers in the second put Seattle up 2-0.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: Selected C Alí Sánchez from Triple-A Jacksonville and designated C Christian Bethancourt for assignment.

UP NEXT

RHP Logan Gilbert (4-4, 2.93) will start the middle game of the series for the Mariners. Marlins scheduled starter LHP Jesús Luzardo was scratched because of a back issue.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Miami Marlins' Bryan De La Cruz gestures after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Josh Bell watches as he hits a home run to center field during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford (3) scores during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins pitcher Trevor Rogers aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Josh Bell congratulates Bryan De La Cruz (14) after De La Cruz hit a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

HONG KONG (AP) — The sole candidate in the election for Macao’s next leader on Saturday pledged to diversify the economy of the Chinese casino city, a goal previously laid out by Beijing.

Sam Hou-fai, the city's former top judge, said at a news conference that the diversification is a key issue he must address. At a separate event, he told election committee members who will vote on Oct. 13 that the city has learned a lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Macao's tourism and gaming industries suffered a big slump because of the virus controls before China rolled back its “zero-COVID” strategy in late 2022.

Sam said just relying on the gaming industry is not enough. “Otherwise, how could we handle it if big disasters arise?” he said.

Sam, 62, is widely expected to secure the leadership in next month's vote, during which a 400-member committee — mostly dominated by establishment figures — picks the leader. Most of the semi-autonomous territory’s population of 687,000 does not have a right to vote. He would be the city’s first leader from mainland China.

During the application period, he already received nominations from 386 committee members. The city’s safeguarding national security committee affirmed his loyalty to China and Macao.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed hopes that the former Portuguese colony can promote healthy and sustainable economic development and diversify its economy, which its gaming industry has dominated for decades. Macao is the only place in China where casinos are legal.

In May, incumbent Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng said the gaming industry accounted for less than 40% of the city’s gross domestic product, down from its past contribution of about 60%. Last year, his government rolled out a diversification plan to boost the tourism and leisure industry and other sectors such as traditional Chinese medicine, finance, and exhibition and commerce.

Ho decided not to seek reelection due to health reasons.

Sam was born in Guangdong province in 1962 and graduated from the law school of Peking University in Beijing. He studied the Portuguese language, culture and law at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. He once worked as a lawyer in mainland China.

Sam was the city’s top judge from when Macao returned to Chinese rule in 1999 until he resigned in August.

Critics have questioned his ability to administer a government given his lack of business and executive background.

He previously said he has worked and lived in Macao for nearly 40 years. He argued his understanding of Macao is no worse than that of many well-known figures and likened his experience of managing the city’s courts to running a small government.

Sam has also handled some politically sensitive cases during his tenure, including upholding the police’s ban on a vigil commemorating China’s bloody 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests. The top court also ruled in the authorities’ favor over their decision to bar pro-democracy figures from joining the legislative election in 2021.

The sole candidate for the upcoming election for the Macao chief executive post, Sam Hou-fai, the city's former top judge, waits for questions near the slogans "Entrepreneurship and Solidarity, Persistence and Innovation" at a press conference at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Macao, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)

The sole candidate for the upcoming election for the Macao chief executive post, Sam Hou-fai, the city's former top judge, speaks near the slogans "Entrepreneurship and Solidarity, Persistence and Innovation" at a press conference at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Macao, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)

The sole candidate for the upcoming election for the Macao chief executive post, Sam Hou-fai, the city's former top judge, waves as he leaves the stage after a press conference at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex in Macao, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)