Marlins beat Rockies with walkoff homer, 9-8

Ubaldo Jimenez couldn't hold a lead. Neither could the Florida Marlins.

And neither could the Colorado Rockies' bullpen.

Pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Monday night, and the Marlins beat the Rockies 9-8.

It was the fifth lead change in the game. All-Star starter Ubaldo Jimenez departed trailing after his shortest outing of the season, but Jonathan Herrera hit his first career homer to put the Rockies ahead 8-7 in the eighth inning.

After Rockies closer Huston Street (1-2) retired the first two batters in the ninth, Dan Uggla walked. Murphy — batting for only the fourth time this season — then homered on a 1-0 pitch.

The Rockies' earlier comeback kept alive a nine-game winning streak for Jimenez, who is 15-1. But the Rockies ace endured his latest in a series of rocky outings.

Making his first start since the All-Star game last Tuesday, Jimenez twice failed to protect a lead. His final pitch was walloped by rookie Mike Stanton for a three-run homer that put Florida ahead 6-4.

Jimenez allowed six runs, four earned, in 5 1-3 innings and has an ERA of 6.39 in his past five starts.

Marlins relievers were no better. They took a scoreless streak of 23 innings into the eighth, but Ian Stewart hit his 12th homer off Clay Hensley to cut Florida's lead to 7-5.

Clint Barmes was hit by a pitch, and with two outs Seth Smith walked. Jhan Marinez came on to face Herrera, who pulled a 2-1 pitch into the right-field seats.

Marinez (1-0) nonetheless earned his first major league win.

Jimenez threw only five pitches in the first inning and struck out the side in the second, then gave up three runs — two unearned — in the third. He departed after throwing 93 pitches and has failed to reach the 100 mark in three of his past four starts.

The right-hander allowed six hits, walked three and made an errant pickoff throw that led to an unearned run. His ERA rose to 2.38.

Florida's Emilio Bonifacio, filling in for injured leadoff hitter Chris Coghlan, had two hits and two RBIs and scored twice. Hanley Ramirez bunted in a run against Jimenez.

Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings.

Jason Giambi had a two-run single in the third for the Rockies. Smith had three of their 11 hits, and Jimenez singled home a run.

NOTES: Jimenez's road ERA soared to 1.60. ... Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez predicts at least 90 victories will be needed to win the NL East or a wild-card berth.