Marlins rally to beat Yankees in thriller to win the series. Takeaways from win.
The Marlins were staring at another tough loss and another hit to their playoff hopes.
But then the ninth inning happened.
The Marlins scored five runs, highlighted by Luis Arraez’s game-tying triple and Jake Burger’s walk-off single to help the Marlins beat the Yankees 8-7 and win two of three in the series.
Overall, Miami overcame a six-run deficit, down as much as 7-1 at one point, for its 31st comeback victory and eighth walk-off of the season. It’s the largest deficit Miami has overcome in a win this season.
With the team scoring five runs in the ninth inning, it marked the largest deficit overcome for a walk-off win in the ninth inning in franchise history.
“We’ve had some crazy walk-off, ninth-inning wins all year and these guys don’t stop believing,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “The guys we acquired (at the trade deadline), they believe in it. We did that against some good arms...That was an unbelievable win and just super, super proud of those guys.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Team looking for momentum since the All-Star break
Miami (62-57) hopes it can build off the momentum of the dramatic victory it picked up in the finale of a series over the weekend the team announced was the highest-attended series in their ballpark’s history (100,001).
An announced crowd of 35,043 (the third-highest attended game in loanDepot park’s history not counting Opening Day games) watched the Marlins comeback which moved their record to 9-18 since the All-Star break and secured only their fourth series win in nine played over that span.
Couple Miami’s win Sunday with losses by the Cubs and Reds on Sunday, and the Marlins are back in the National League’s third Wild Card spot.
But to remain there, they must find a way to start stringing together wins during an upcoming schedule won’t let up. The Marlins’ next three series are against the Astros, Dodgers and Padres — all of whom would either make the playoffs or are still in contention.
Burger sizzling, Bell ringing
Josh Bell reached base for the 11th consecutive game since joining the Marlins after being traded from the Cleveland Guardians.
Although it wasn’t a hit, Bell being able to reach on a throwing error to first by Clay Holmes led to the first two runs of the ninth inning and effectively gave the Marlins a chance to pull off the improbable comeback.
“It feels like a blur now,” Bell said. “Yuli had a great at-bat and all it takes is a big hit and that belief starts to trickle in, quality at-bats and Burger coming in clutch at the end. It was fun to watch.”
Burger has reached safely in 10 of his 11 games since being traded from the Chicago White Sox and is hitting .317 (13 for 41) with four home runs, two doubles, 10 RBI and six runs scored during that span.
“It was an incredible job by everyone through the lineup and it doesn’t feel like we’re ever out of it,” Burger said. “I was just thinking sac fly, but he left something up and I was able to drive it.”
In addition to his walk-off winner, the third of his career, second of the season and first with the Marlins, Burger’s single in the bottom of the sixth scored Arraez to cut the Yankees’ lead at the time to 7-2.
The Marlins also continued to mix and match the top of its lineup going with Chisholm in the leadoff spot and Bell second with Arraez hitting third. Chisholm went 0 for 4 with a ninth-inning walk on Sunday. Bell went 1 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored. Arraez went 3 for 5 with three RBI, including the two-run triple to tie the game at 7-7.
The Marlins were without Jorge Soler for the second consecutive game with what Schumaker said Saturday was a stomach issue. Soler, however, was on deck during the final at-bat.
Eury not the same since return
Rookie right-handed pitcher Eury Perez threw 82 pitches but only 47 for strikes and fell behind hitters, allowing the Yankees to take advantage.
Perez had thrown 84 1/3 innings in the minors and majors combined, exceeding with three months of games remaining what he had thrown in either of the past two seasons, when the Marlins decided to send him down on July 6.
His 2.36 ERA at the time was the lowest for a pitcher 20 years old or younger with at least 50 innings pitched in the Live Ball Era (since 1920).
In the two starts since returning from Double A Pensacola, Perez has struck out 12, but allowed eight runs over 8 ⅔ innings on nine hits, including three home runs, four walks and one hit batter for a 8.31 combined ERA in those two outings.
“I didn’t locate my pitches very well,” Perez said. “I have to do a better job of maintaining myself in the zone. That’s been a problem my past two starts. I have to land that first pitch for strikes better.”
New York rookie Anthony Volpe belted a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead and all the cushion they’d need.
Former Marlins All-Star Giancarlo Stanton also roped an RBI double off Perez in the third inning.
This story was originally published August 13, 2023 at 4:53 PM.
