White Sox defeat Marlins 8-7; go for series sweep Sunday

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Dioner Navarro slides into home for the go-ahead run as Miami Marlins relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough is unable to hang onto the ball during the eighth inning Saturday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI — A ho-hum 8-7 -victory against the Marlins this was not.

Not when plodding catcher Dioner Navarro scampers home and slides into pitcher Kyle Barraclough with the go-ahead run, scoring on a two-out dropped third strike.

And not when the Sox (56-60) won their first three-game series since beating the Yankees in early July. Rookie Jason Coats hit his first homer, Chris Beck picked up his first win in -relief and up-and-down closer David Robertson earned his second 1-2-3 save in as many night, albeit an unconventional one. This one ended when Adam Eaton threw out Giancarlo Stanton trying to stretch a single into a double. Eaton’s major-league leading 17th outfield assist was made even easier when Stanton (groin) pulled up lame approaching his slide.

Navarro pulled no such muscle, entertaining teammates by scoring the run.

“The guys seemed to enjoy it,’’ manager Robin Ventura said.

“I know I didn’t because I was running,’’ Navarro said laughing. “If they did, I’m happy to help them out.’’

On the unhappy side, James Shields got roughed up in his third consecutive outing, allowing seven runs, 10 hits and a walk with no strikeouts in three-plus innings. That followed a four-homer shelling by the Orioles and six runs and nine hits in five innings against the Tigers.

“Last game was more location,” Shields said. “I left a couple of balls over the plate today, but I have to go check the video out after we’re done here and figure that out.”

The Sox go for the series sweep Sunday after with left-hander Chris Sale facing Marlins righty Tom Koehler.

Down for the 10-count

The Sox have 10 players on the disabled list, many of whom were key parts when the season opened: Right-handers Miguel Gonzalez, Zach Putnam, Jake Petricka and Daniel Webb, outfielders Austin Jackson and Avisail Garcia, second baseman Brett Lawrie, catchers Alex Avila and Kevan Smith and third baseman Matt Davidson.

All teams deal with injuries, and while 10 is a big number, the Sox didn’t have the organizational depth going into the season to withstand that.

“You’re seeing part of the depth issue that comes into it,’’ Ventura said. “You’re bringing guys up, counting on them to step in and do some stuff.’’

Lawrie (hamstring) began his minor-league rehab at Class AA Birmingham on Saturday.

O-more Narvaez

Look for left-handed hitting catcher Omar Narvaez to get more playing time after starting his career with a seven-game hitting streak, which he kept alive Friday. Ventura indicated Narvaez will catch Chris Sale for the first time in the series finale Sunday.

Carlos Rodon and Jose Quintana have given Narvaez, 24, who was catching at Class A

Winston-Salem last season, high marks for pitch calling and -receiving.

“He’s called two real good games,’’ Quintana said. “He follows the report.’’

Quintana said Narvaez is also good at reading hitters swings and adjusting on the fly. He has a .600 on-base percentage in his first 25 plate appearances.

A home for A-Rod?

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said team officials haven’t discussed trying to coax Alex Rodriguez into a comeback, but he didn’t rule out the idea.

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