In a thrilling encounter at Tampa, the Miami Marlins snapped their five-game losing streak by narrowly defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 11-10. Jesús Sánchez was instrumental in the win, hitting a three-run homer and a two-run double. Heriberto Hernandez played a crucial role as well, delivering a single that brought in the deciding run in the 10th inning.
Christopher Morel was a standout for the Rays, achieving three hits in three at-bats, including two home runs and a double, with four RBIs. This impressive performance came on the heels of the Rays’ four-game winning streak, now halted.
The game started dramatically as Morel launched a three-run homer off Ryan Weathers, followed by consecutive doubles from Danny Jansen and Taylor Walls, giving the Rays an initial 4-0 lead. Weathers, notably the son of former MLB pitcher David Weathers, had to be taken out after three innings for precautionary reasons when he was inadvertently hit in the head by a throw from catcher Nick Fortes.
The Marlins began their comeback in the third inning. Dan Myers and Fortes reached base with singles off Rays pitcher Taj Bradley, and Xavier Edwards doubled to bring in Myers. Sánchez then connected for his fifth home run, leveling the score at 4-4.
The Rays reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Morel doubled and Jansen hit a homer, leaving them ahead 6-4. However, the Marlins responded powerfully with a seven-run rally in the fifth inning. Sánchez’s two-run double gave them a narrow lead. Contributions from Liam Hicks and Myers expanded Miami’s advantage to 10-6. The inning concluded with José Caballero cutting down Myers at the plate.
Nonetheless, the Rays fought back. Morel’s solo home run in the sixth and Walls’ two-run homer brought the score closer at 10-9. Brandon Lowe tied the game with his 13th home run at the start of the seventh inning.
Bradley’s performance on the mound saw him surrender seven runs on six hits over four innings. The pitching struggles continued as Mason Montgomery allowed more runs in relief, and Garrett Cleavinger ultimately conceded Hernandez’s crucial hit, leading to his loss in the fixture.
Rookie pitcher Cade Gibson provided a solid finish for Miami, securing his first win with two impressive scoreless innings.
In a notable defensive highlight, Edwards foiled a Rays’ scoring attempt by throwing out the mandatory runner Kameron Misner at home in the 10th inning, maintaining the Marlins’ narrow lead.
The Marlins have a challenging staff ERA of 4.99, ranking among the bottom in the league, besting only the Rockies in the National League.
Looking ahead, the Rays will see Drew Rasmussen, with a record of 5-4 and an ERA of 2.14, take the mound for the series’ final game on Sunday. The Marlins have yet to announce their starting pitcher for the matchup.