Corbin Carroll hit a walk-off home run to help the Snakes charge back in the series opener and take a bite out of the Marlins on Monday
The Miami Marlins opened up a three-game set on the road in Phoenix on Monday night, with an 8-7 loss in what became a come-from-behind victory for the opposing Arizona Diamondbacks.
Corbin Carroll hit his 21st home run of the year, a walk-off game-winner, in the bottom of the ninth off Miami reliever Jack Ralston. Pressed into duty, Ralston entered the game after Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks left with an injury. For the Diamondbacks, it was a big victory- particularly in terms of their postseason chances. Arizona (now 81-71) needed the victory to keep pace in the National League Wild Card race, as the San Diego Padres (82-68), the team they're chasing, won their eighth game in a row earlier in the day.
The Snakes now trail SD by two games. For comparison, the loss dropped the Marlins to 8.5 games back with just 11 games to play. They could theoretically be eliminated during this three-game set.
For the Marlins (74-77), Sandy Alcantara got the start but didn't factor into the final record as the bullpen blew a late lead. The 31-year-old veteran threw five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, notching six strikeouts and two walks. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner, Alcantara, faced off against the man who won the very same award a year earlier, 2021 recipient and Snakes' starter Corbin Burnes, who remains 0-0 after just his second start of the season.
Final Word on the Fish
The Marlins' story on the night was their hitting. They struck early and often, dotting the scoreboard with runs in the second, fourth, and seventh innings. Javier Sanoja continued his hot hitting, cracking a three-run homer midway through the contest, while Jakob Marsee went back-to-back with him, adding a solo shot. The Fish were piping hot on the evening, as everyone with a bat in their hands seemed to contribute to Miami's scoring. Collectively, they recorded 12 hits and two walks in the game.
It wasn't enough, however, as the Marlins bullpen kept on its horrific slide in 2026. The relief corps has now blown 20 saves this year.
Per usual, Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks began the ninth on the mound. Then, Gabriel Moreno drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Tommy Troy. After that turn of events, Fairbanks would exit the game one pitch later due to an undisclosed injury. Ralston entered the game, and after a sacrifice bunt by Geraldo Perdomo, Carroll closed things out by belting the game-winning homer.
It was a crushing blow for Miami, which had just come off a walk-off win of their own the day before to take a weekend series from the Los Angeles Dodgers. So, the swing of in emotions was, once again, an illustration of the Marlins' Jekyll and Hyde season... one that has seen its fair share of major highs and massive depths.
The two teams will continue the road series where they left off when they take the field for another evening encounter at Chase Field on Tuesday. Janson Junk is scheduled to take the mound for Miami. He's got a 6-9 record, with a 4.54 ERA, and 74 strikeouts. The D-Backs are expected to throw righty Michael Soroka, who has gone 8-5 with a 3.53 ERA, and 95 Ks in 2026.
