MIAMI — In a thrilling display, Kyle Stowers hit a dramatic grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning, clinching a 9-6 win for the Miami Marlins over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. This pivotal moment came after Stowers had already tied the game in the third inning with a powerful two-run homer off Osvaldo Bido.
This marked Stowers’ second multi-homer game within just three matchups, having previously homered twice in a defeat against the Dodgers earlier in the week.
Javier Sanoja contributed significantly with two hits and two runs, helping the Marlins break a six-game losing streak. Pitcher Lake Bachar (2-0) secured the win after delivering two solid innings. Meanwhile, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, and Luis Urías each homered for the Athletics, who had been on a hot streak, winning five of their last six games. Jacob Wilson also made a notable contribution for the A’s with two hits and two runs scored.
The Athletics took a narrow 5-4 lead in the sixth inning, thanks to Nick Kurtz’s sacrifice fly. Gio Urshela expanded this lead with an RBI double in the eighth inning.
Athletics’ pitcher Mason Miller (0-1) faced challenges in the ninth inning, hitting leadoff man Matt Mervis. Although Connor Norby and Dane Myers struck out, Mervis advanced to third base due to a double by Sanoja. Miller’s control faltered as he threw a wild pitch, allowing Mervis to score. This set the stage for Stowers, who crushed a fastball deep into left-center, sealing the victory for the Marlins.
The game included various momentum shifts, particularly when the A’s took a 4-2 lead following Urías’ two-run homer off Marlins starter Max Meyer in the fourth. The Marlins responded in the fifth inning with two runs, driven by a double from Sanoja and a sacrifice fly by Xavier Edwards.
Meyer’s outing saw him conceding five runs on 10 hits in just over five innings, while Bido allowed four runs and three hits over five innings.
A key highlight of the game was Bachar’s performance in the ninth inning, where he struck out all three batters he faced, ensuring a tense finale for the home team.
Statistically, it was noteworthy that Meyer registered no strikeouts in this home start, a stark contrast to his previous career-high 14 strikeouts against Cincinnati earlier in the season.
Looking ahead, the Athletics will rely on LHP JP Sears, who boasts a 4-2 record with a 2.94 ERA, to start the series finale on Sunday. The Marlins will counter with RHP Edward Cabrera, who is still seeking his first win of the season, carrying a 7.23 ERA.