Brian Anderson slugged his first career grand slam, and Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara pitched seven strong innings as Miami defeated the host Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 on Wednesday night.

The Marlins, who have the worst record in the National League, are 13-5 since a 10-31 start. They have won four straight games and seven of their last nine.

Milwaukee has lost two games in a row, both in this series, by a combined score of 24-3.

With no outs and the bases loaded in the third inning, Anderson ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Jimmy Nelson (0-1) and drove it well beyond the fence in left field -- a blast that was measured at 446 feet. Anderson's seventh homer of the season snapped a 1-1 tie.

Alcantara (3-5) allowed five hits, one walk and one run in seven innings, striking out five. He threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of the 24 batters he faced.

Nelson, pitching on his 30th birthday, made his comeback from shoulder surgery. After not having pitched in the majors since Sept. 8, 2017, Nelson allowed four hits, three walks and five runs (four earned) in three innings. He struck two and threw 65 pitches, 35 for strikes.

Miami went on the attack immediately. Leadoff batter Curtis Granderson reached on a first-inning error by Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia. Anderson hit a one-out double, and Granderson scored on Starlin Castro's groundout.

Milwaukee tied the score in the second.

Mike Moustakas hit a leadoff single that deflected off first baseman Garrett Cooper's glove. Moustakas advanced on Yasmani Grandal's single and scored on Arcia's double to left-center.

However, Grandal was thrown out at the plate when center fielder JT Riddle, converted from the infield this week, hit relay man Miguel Rojas, who fired home.

In the third, Alcantara drew a leadoff walk, Granderson doubled and Cooper walked to load the bases. That's when Anderson connected for a 5-1 lead.

Miami added a run in the fifth when Anderson drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on Grandal's throwing error on the steal and scored on Castro's sacrifice fly.

The Marlins extended their lead to 8-1 in the eighth on backup catcher Bryan Holaday's two-run single.

Grandal launched a two-run homer to left in the ninth, his 13th long ball of the season, to close out the scoring.

--Field Level Media