Heath Bell's latest blown save led to Ozzie Guillen's latest blowup.
In an attempt to divert attention from the embattled Bell, Guillen unleashed a profanity-laced tirade Tuesday following the Miami Marlins' heartbreaking 13-12 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in 10 innings.
The Marlins erased a seven-run deficit and took the lead in the 10th before Bell, who has struggled throughout his first season as Miami's closer, surrendered Aramis Ramirez's walk-off two-run homer.
Rather than blaming Bell, Guillen blasted the Marlins' other pitchers but did not single out starter Anibal Sanchez, who yielded six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.
"Make sure Miami people don't (expletive) Bell," Guillen told reporters, as quoted in the Miami Herald. "Bell gave up two runs. How about the rest of the (expletives) 10 or 12 runs they scored? That's why this (expletive) game is not (expletive) fair.
"It's Ozzie talking (expletive)? No. It's Ozzie talking the truth, about how (expletive) we were before that (expletive) inning. Put that (expletive) down!"
Bell blew his fifth save this season, falling to 2-4 with a 6.39 ERA. The three-time All-Star signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Marlins this past offseason following five stellar seasons in San Diego.
"Just a little mistake from me lets the whole team down," said Bell, who was demoted from closer briefly after a rocky start to the season. "The guys battled. We could easily put our heads down and (say), 'This game is over.'
"We got in a position to win, and I screwed up."
Although he praised his team's effort, Guillen clearly was upset by the overall quality of the game, which featured 31 hits and four errors -- including three by the Marlins.
"I think that was a very (expletive) big league baseball game, both sides," Guillen said. "The only good thing about it for (Milwaukee), they win. Very bad pitching ... errors all over the place. We finished up the game the way we started, very bad.
"It hurts, obviously it hurts. You take the win away and have a punch right in your stomach. We fought, we fought with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy even when we were down. But at the end of the day, it's not how much we fight. Win the fight -- that's more important. They pay you to win the fight, not fight good."
Carlos Gomez led off the 10th inning with a walk, and Norichika Aoki flied out to the warning track in center.
Ryan Braun, who hit a three-run homer in the six-run sixth, struck out, and on the play Gomez stole second. Ramirez punctuated the wild contest by blasting Bell's 0-1 pitch over the wall in center.
"We make errors and we pick each other up," Bell said. "I just unfortunately made an error that can't be picked up. It really stinks."
Known for his fiery temper, Guillen has been supportive of Bell throughout the season while remaining uncharacteristically tight-lipped during the Marlins' current 7-19 swoon.
Guillen's first season as the Marlins' manager started in disastrous fashion when he said he admired and loved Fidel Castro, prompting a five-game suspension in mid-April. The controversial comments caused a backlash in South Florida, especially among Cuban-Americans.
Guillen offered an emotional apology, but some local leaders, Cuban-Americans and even Marlins fans thought he should have been fired.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.