Marlins push Twins to brink of elimination with 8-6 win in 13 innings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Otto Lopez doubled home the go-ahead run in the 13th inning as the Miami Marlins beat the reeling Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Thursday night.

Carlos Correa homered for the Twins, who were 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 on the night.

“We had every opportunity put in front of us to win that baseball game,” said Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers. “Our season is on the line and we weren’t able to execute to get that run across.”

The Twins (82-77) have lost six of their last eight and now trail the Tigers and Royals by three games in the race for the last two AL wild card spots. They would be eliminated with one more loss or one victory by Detroit and Kansas City.

“I know how we’ve played. I’ve been here and been a part of it and watched it all,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We are not eliminated right now, at this point. And I don’t have the mindset that we are out of this. I don’t care who’s available in the pen tomorrow. I don’t care how we played today. My intention is to win out ... and see what happens.”

In the 13th, Lopez drove home automatic runner Dane Myers with a one-out drive down the left field line off Scott Blewett (1-1). Griffin Conine put the game out of reach with a two-out, two-run single off Justin Topa.

“We like playing the role of villain,” Conine said. “We want to be the spoilers. That’s what we said going in, and we got a couple of good wins this series, which is awesome.”

Anthony Maldonado (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first career victory. Darren McCaughan allowed one run in the 13th, picking up his first save.

Trailing 4-0 after five innings, the Twins battled back, tying it on Brooks Lee’s two-run double in the eighth.

Each team scored with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.

The Twins fell behind for the third straight game as Jake Burger’s RBI double gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Miami (59-100) knocked out Twins starter David Festa in the fifth after he allowed singles to four of the first five batters he faced in the inning. The Marlins ended up scoring three runs on RBI singles by Xavier Edwards and Burger and an error on Jeffers, who dropped a throw at the plate.

Correa led off the sixth with a home run that caromed off the facing of the third deck in left field. The Twins tacked on a run in the seventh on a throwing error by the shortstop Edwards.

“It’s one of those that hurts,” said Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. “We know what’s at stake and we’ve got to keep pushing.”

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Adam Oller (1-4, 5.06) gets the nod as the Marlins open their final series of the season in Toronto on Friday. In his last start, Oller gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against Atlanta on September 21. Toronto has not named a starting pitcher.

Twins: RHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will make his final start of the season against the Oriolers on Friday. López allowed a season-high seven runs in four innings on Sunday at Boston. The Orioles have not named their starter.

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

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Scott Blewett (60) walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game during the 13th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Miami Marlins' Jesús Sánchez flips his bat as he walks back to the dugout after striking out in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins pitcher David Festa (58) stands on the mound after walking Miami Marlins' Xavier Edwards during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Miami Marlins' Connor Norby walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa gestures skyward after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro (50) watches his fly out to center field during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Valente Bellozo winds up to deliver during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Miami Marlins pitcher Valente Bellozo looks skyward as he walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Miami Marlins pitcher Valente Bellozo walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa (58) delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Austin Martin slides into third base after a single hit by teammate Carlos Correa during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

BEIJING (AP) — Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Friday welcomed Chinese efforts to stimulate its slowing economy, noting that its recent weakness has hurt Australia.

Chalmers was wrapping up a two-day visit to Beijing, the first to China by an Australian treasurer in seven years, as strained bilateral relations mend.

He told reporters that Australia’s economy was slowing because of global economic uncertainty, high interest rates and China’s slowdown.

“Those three things are combining to slow our own economy considerably and when steps are taken here to boost economic activity and to boost growth in the Chinese economy, subject to the details that will be released in good time, we see that as a very, very good development for Australia,” Chalmers said.

China is the biggest buyer of Australia’s most lucrative exports: iron ore and coal.

“Our resilience and prosperity are closely connected to China’s economy and the global economy,” Chalmers wrote in an opinion piece published Friday in The Australian newspaper. He noted that his department forecasts Chinese annual economic growth at below 5% for the next three years, the weakest expansion since the late 1970s.

While in Beijing the two sides held meetings for the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, reviving the once annual talks aimed at growing trade and investment after a seven-year hiatus.

In 2020, China introduced a series of official and unofficial trade bans on Australian commodities, including coal, that cost Australian exporters more than 20 billion Australian dollars ($14 billion) a year.

Such “trade impediments” now cost Australian exporters less than AU$1 billion ($690 million) a year, Chalmers says.

At the outset of Thursday's meetings, Zheng Shanjie, chair of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, noted how relations had improved since Chalmers’ center-left Labor Party government was elected in 2020, ending nine years of conservative rule in Australia.

“Our development represents opportunities rather than challenges with each other,” Zheng said through an interpreter.

“At a time when the international situation is intricate and turbulent, it is of great significance for both countries to discuss economic development and cooperation opportunities together,” Zheng added.

Two-way bilateral trade reached a record AU$327 billion ($225 billion) last year, more than double its value when a free trade deal was struck in 2015.

During his visit, Chalmers was expected to raise with the Chinese restrictions on imports of Australian lobsters and red meat from two Australian processors.

China was expected to raise concerns about Australian foreign investment rules.

China wants to invest in Australian critical minerals, but Australia shares U.S. concerns over China’s global dominance in critical minerals and control over supply chains in the renewable energy sector.

Citing Australia’s national interests, Chalmers recently ordered five Chinese-linked companies to divest their shares in the rare earth mining company Northern Minerals.

China has been grappling with a lagging economy post-COVID, with weak consumer demand, persistent deflationary pressures and a contraction in factory activity.

Earlier this week, China announced a series of new measures to boost the economy and revive its ailing property sector. The central bank lowered bank reserve requirements by 0.5% as of Friday. It also has slashed interest rates on its loans to commercial banks and lowered the minimum down payments for some mortgages.

Unconfirmed reports Thursday by the South China Morning Post and Bloomberg said the government plans to spend about 1 trillion yuan ($142 billion) on recapitalizing six big state-owned banks.

While China is growing economically closer to Australia, Beijing is becoming militarily more belligerent in the Asia-Paficic region.

On security issues, Chalmers said he raised in his discussions a Chinese aircraft carrier accompanied by two destroyers entering an area near Japan’s shores for the first time last week.

He also raised international concerns over China test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean this week.

“I was able to reiterate in the meetings yesterday afternoon our expectations of safe and professional conduct of all militaries operating in our region,” Chalmers said.

“But as you would expect, the overwhelming focus of our discussions here have been the economy,” he added.

McGuirk contributed from Melbourne, Australia.

FILE - Australian Finance Minister Jim Chalmers sits for an interview during the G-20 third Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting in Gandhinagar, India, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)