Duran's Go-Ahead Grand Slam Lifts Red Sox Over Marlins

MIAMI — Jarren Duran broke a 3-3 tie with a grand slam in the 11th inning off Miami Marlins reliever Cade Gibson, and the Boston Red Sox (73-59) secured the series with a 7-3 win in 11 innings Tuesday at loanDepot park.

“I knew I hit it far enough for a run to score,” Duran told reporters in the clubhouse after the game.

It was the first time since July 17 that the Marlins (67-66) and their opponent were tied after nine innings. That game came in the club’s first game after the All-Star break.

Designated hitter Mickey Gasper, who haunted the Marlins Monday in a 4-2 win, did the same Tuesday, accounting for two of Boston’s three home runs.

Gasper took Marlins starter Tyler Phillips deep in the second inning to give Boston an early 1-0 lead and put the Red Sox back in front 2-1 with a home run off Tyler Zuber in the sixth.

The Marlins evened the score three times Tuesday, including on a passed ball during Javier Sanoja’s swinging strikeout in the 10th inning that made it 3-3 and sent the game to the 11th.

Heriberto Hernández clobbered his team-leading 20th home run of 2026, sending a Payton Tolle pitch into the left-field seats to tie the game at 2-2.

Tolle finished with a no-decision, throwing 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball, walking two and striking out seven.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough had to nearly empty his bullpen on the same day the club placed closer Pete Fairbanks on the injured list for the second time this season.

Not including Gibson, the Marlins used Victor Vodnik, Zuber, Jack Ralston, who was making just his second major league appearance, Michael Petersen, Josh Ekness, who pitched Monday, and Calvin Faucher.

The Marlins had opportunities to take control late but could not push across the go-ahead run.

Boston’s bullpen, which has been great all season, kept Miami off the scoreboard aside from a lone run in the 10th, allowing the Red Sox to stay within striking distance before Duran delivered the decisive blow.

Gibson entered the 11th with the game still tied, but Boston quickly loaded the bases before Duran cleared them with one swing.

The grand slam gave the Red Sox their third lead of the night and turned what had been a tightly-contested game into a four-run lead in a hurry. 

The Marlins will look to regroup in the series finale Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET after using seven relievers Tuesday.

With Fairbanks unavailable and the bullpen heavily taxed, Miami could be forced to rely on its remaining relief options in the finale as it looks to avoid a home sweep.