'Kings of Queens': Marlins walk off, sweep Mets

[Nate Karzmer]

MIAMI—"Trust yourself, because you know the tools are there, the talent is there, it's just a matter of trusting what you got and what you can do."

That was the heartfelt message relayed from Miami's coaching staff to the struggling Heriberto Hernández before being sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville in late April. Coming off an encouraging 2025, the second-year outfielder wasn't all the way there at the plate, requiring tune-ups both mechanically and mentally to regain what Miami and Hernandez alike knew he had.

Less than a month later, it's safe to say the 26-year-old's confidence has never been higher.

Hernandez delivered the moment of the season for Miami thus far in the bottom of the ninth in Sunday's series finale over the Mets, blasting a walk-off grand slam to the roar of 23,018 screaming spectators at loanDepot park in a thrilling 4-0 victory. With the win, Hernández's club secures a sweep over their division rival climbs back to 25-29. New York did not lead at any point in the series after the second inning of Friday's game one.

"Really happy for Bert," said Marlins skipper Clayton McCullough postgame over a raucous clubhouse. "We saw him do a lot of fantastic things for us last year—the big homer he had in Philly off [Jhoan] Duran. He's come through in moments for us in the past, and for him just to hang in there, and come back up, he's been ready to go every time his name has been called, he hadn't got a whole lot of starts to get into a rhythm, but I think he's always ready to come off the bench and hit. I couldn't be happier for him to have that moment there."

"Amazing," responded Hernández with a smile when asked of his emotions. "It feels good that the team is winning and then the way that we've been fighting out there, it feels good."

Deadlocked at 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth, the slumping Christopher Morel doubled to kick off what would be the game-winning rally. A sacrifice bunt from Javier Sanoja and back-to-back walks to Liam Hicks and Xavier Edwards—the latter being intentional—set the scene for Hernández, who didn't even enter the contest until the seventh.

"I wasn't trying to do much—just trying to put the ball in play," said Hernández. "I knew that if I put the ball in play, we were going to get that run."

Hernández still owns an ugly .193/.287/.284 slash line in 32 total MLB games, though his wRC+ spiked from 48 to 65 in this contest.

One attribute of the Dominican's game that has never wavered is his attitude. Consistently, Hernández takes pride in any way he can assist in Miami winning ballgames. With the bat returning to rookie-year form, there's no reason why he shouldn't play a part in the coming weeks.

"Just trying to help the team." said Hernández when asked what's been working since his return. "I know that I'm not playing every day, but in my heart that's what I want, just being able to help the team and contribute every time I'm out there."

 

If It Ain't Broke...

For as intense and stern as Tyler Phillips looks most times, Miami's standout second-year reliever has a simple approach to breaking the ice.

"Go out there and relieve in the first inning. I guess they call that starting."

Phillips stuck to his routine, coming out of the bullpen before taking the mound in the first while slapping himself in his patented pre-outing ritual.

It worked. Phillips was impressive yet again, getting through 3 ⅔ innings scoreless innings before turning things over to his buddies in the bullpen.

"I've started my whole career. Last year was my first year relieving," said Phillips. "The mentality that (Daniel) Moskos, Clayton (Brandon) Mann, everyone's been pushing to me is just go out there, do the same thing you've been doing, treat it like you're relieving in the first inning. Coming out of the 'pen has been kind of working for me. I get my little alter ego going and you're just attacking from pitch one. So instead of coming in in the sixth inning, I just did it from the first inning."

Following Phillips, a sensational group effort from Calvin Faucher, John King, Anthony Bender, Michael Petersen and Pete Fairbanks kept New York quiet and things scoreless. The staff as a whole surrendered just three hits all afternoon.

 

Notes and Quotes

- Connor Norby was removed from Sunday's game with left elbow discomfort. Norby wore a 95 mph heater from Christian Scott in the fourth and stayed in the game for a half inning before Graham Pauley entered in his place. "He's sore," said McCullough of the injury. "I hadn't really got a check,  got him in a tough spot there, around the elbow area, was able to play another inning of defense, but wasn't gonna be able to swing the bat, and it was starting to stiffen up. Probably have more on that tomorrow."

- This was the Marlins' first series sweep of the Mets since May 17-19, 2019.

- Hernandez's walk-off grand slam was Miami's first since Kyle Stowers hit his infamous blast off Mason Miller on May 4, 2025.

- Miami improves to 1-9 in games when the fourth rotation spot makes a start this season. Chris Paddack, Robby Snelling and Braxton Garrett couldn't get it done, but a sensational effort from Phillips and Co. finally lifts the hex.

 

On Deck

Now riding sudden momentum, Miami embarks on a three-city road trip beginning north of the border in Toronto against the defending American League champions. Janson Junk toes the slab for Miami in Monday night's series opener against postseason hero Trey Yesavage. First pitch from the Rogers Centre is set for 7:07.

View full article