Marlins Snap Historic Skid With Walk-Off

MIAMI — In what began as a back-and-forth first inning Monday at loanDepot park, the Miami Marlins ended their historic 12-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, stunning the Philadelphia Phillies (57-50) with a three-run ninth-inning rally for an 8-7 victory.

Outfielder Griffin Conine, who hit a solo home run off Phillies veteran ace Zack Wheeler earlier in the game, was the hero Monday, lining a game-winning single over second baseman Bryson Stott’s head with the bases loaded and one out.

The walk-off was Conine’s first of his major league career.

"After this stretch that we've been on, it felt like a September-type game, with the playoffs looming," a pleased Conine said after the game. 

Miami led off the ninth inning with back-to-back hits from Jakob Marsee and Otto Lopez.

After Kyle Stowers was hit by a pitch from Phillies closer Jhoan Duran — arguably one of the better arms in Major League Baseball — the Marlins had the bases loaded with nobody out.

Heriberto Hernández, who joined Conine in the home run party against Wheeler, ripped a two-run single off Duran to shallow center field to tie the game at 7-7.

The Marlins (53-54) were trailing 2-0 early in the first inning when Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper clobbered a Tyler Phillips sinker into the center-field seats for a two-run home run.

Miami, however, quickly responded in the bottom half, scoring after Lopez led off the inning with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by former Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Trea Turner.

“Everybody feels good. It’s no lie, everyone has been in the building grinding hard now for a couple of weeks,” manager Clayton McCullough said.

Wheeler was pulled after allowing five runs over just three innings of work.

For context, Wheeler’s three-inning outing is tied for his shortest ever against the Marlins in 28 career starts.

Five earned runs allowed is tied for the third-most he’s ever given up against Miami.

Wheeler confirmed with the Philadelphia media after the game that he is OK; he just had a bad day.

Miami entered the sixth inning holding a 5-2 lead, but, similar to the club’s series finale Sunday against the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park, the bullpen was unable to protect it.

Left-hander Cade Gibson, who replaced Phillips to begin the sixth, gave up three runs in what became a four-run inning as the Phillies erased a three-run deficit and took a 6-5 lead.

Philadelphia tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning off left-handed reliever John King, who has been solid out of Miami’s bullpen this season.

The Marlins will look to win their first series since completing a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners at loanDepot park from July 7-9 when they take the field Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET, with a pair of right-handers set to take the mound.

Philadelphia's Aaron Nola (3-8, 5.82 ERA) will go opposite Sandy Alcantara (10-6, 4.01 ERA). 

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