14 pitches and 10 fouls later, A.J. Ellis drove in the go-ahead run for the Marlins on a 99-mph fastball

The Marlins had an eventful weekend in Miami, taking three of four from the D-backs and enjoying a masterful no-hitter from Edinson Vólquez in the process. 
On Sunday, Miami dispatched Arizona once again, 6-5, on the strength of a seventh-inning RBI single from catcher A.J. Ellis. But this wasn't just any RBI single. It was the result of a marathon at-bat between Ellis and D-backs reliever Archie Bradley that spanned 14 pitches, 10 of which were foul balls struck by Ellis. 

Yes, he fouled away 10 pitches -- and the one he finally sent into left-center for the game-winning hit? Well, that one came on a 99.8-mph fastball. Ellis was locked-in. 
After the hit, which scored Derek Dietrich, the two shared pumped-up facial expressions, with the veteran backstop conveying a sense of "I got you," an appropriate reaction after an at-bat like that.

Dietrich, who had a great vantage point for Ellis' hit standing on second base, told MLB.com's Joe Frisaro after the game how impressive it all was to see:
"One of the toughest eighth inning guys in the league. To put an at-bat like that together, fouling off pitch-by-pitch. Sliders and 95-to-100 mph fastballs."
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And Ellis explained his approach at the plate:
"I got to face Archie a few teams and I've seen him pitch a lot from being on the west coast. This got has an electric fastball. I knew I had to be quick and not overswing. He especially plays at the top of the zone with that four-seamer. I kept fighting and fighting and fighting. I'm fortunate those balls were fouled off and not fly balls somewhere. I had to figure the right swing. I had to get on top and was finally on top of one."
As you might imagine, Ellis began feeling more comfortable facing Bradley as the at-bat went on:
"It felt pretty good as I got a little deeper, especially in a 2-2, 3-2 count. With a guy like Riddle on deck, who can get on time for a fastball better than I can, he was going to keep challenging me. I was able to put one into the outfield."
Sunday's 14-pitch battle in Miami called to mind another from earlier this season when Félix Hernández and Mike Trout engaged in a similarly drawn-out back-and-forth (with the Mariners ace besting the Angels' star on a called third strike). 
These types of at-bats don't happen all the time, but when they do, they're something to behold.