So…that happened! Marlins walk off against Cardinals on chaotic final play.
This one might go down as one of the wildest wins in franchise history. Joey Wendle said it best as he used one word to describe the ending, “chaos.” Let’s try and break it down.
It was a back-and-forth affair from the beginning as the Marlins jumped out to and then surrendered a five-run lead before retaking the lead in the bottom of the third. Jacob *checks notes* STALLINGS(!?!) hit his first-ever home run at loanDepot park (102.3 MPH, 35° LA, 388 FT) to make it 6-5 Marlins. His teammates gave him the silent treatment when he returned to the dugout.
The Cardinals tied the game again in the top of the fourth off George Soriano—who came on in relief of Bryan Hoeing—and almost took the lead were it not for Dane Myers, who made an incredible catch in center field.
The score remained tied until the sixth inning when Jorge Soler drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a double by Bryan De La Cruz to break the tie, the third hit of the game for DLC.
Garrett Cooper followed up with an RBI single to score DLC and give the Marlins a 8-6 lead.
The Cardinals brought the game back to within one run off Huascar Brazoban in the seventh, and Tanner Scott worked around a couple of baserunners in the eighth to preserve the lead.
And then, all hell broke loose.
A.J. Puk entered for the ninth inning and struck out Nolan Arenado looking to begin the frame. Willson Contreras reached on a ground ball just past the mound when Puk couldn’t get to the bag in time. He then struck out pinch-hitter Luken Baker, and with a 3-2 count, Jordan Walker crushed a ball onto the Budweiser Balcony to take the lead for the Cardinals. Blown save for Puk.
But the Marlins didn’t hear the bell. Jordan Hicks walked De La Cruz on four pitches to begin the bottom of the ninth, struck out Garrett Cooper, then gave up a single to right by Yuli Gurriel. With the tying run at second and the winning run at first, Skip elected to send Garrett Hampson out to pinch-run for De La Cruz. With Joey Wendle at the plate after replacing Jean Segura, who had been ejected earlier in the game for arguing balls and strikes, Hampson took off for third on the 1-2 pitch. Joey hit a weak ground ball back to the mound, and Jordan Hicks fielded it as Hampson rounded third base. He double-clutched and airmailed the first baseman. Hampson scored easily to tie the game, and Gurriel turned on the jets and came around to score the winning run from first on the error.
Pandemonium. Wendle gets mobbed by his teammates, and the Marlins take this one by a score of 10-9.
Noah’s Notes and What’s Next
- Oh boy, is this team fun to watch.
- Skip: “We got the win, so I’ll take the win.”
- Dane Myers: “The last 48 hours have been pretty insane.”
- Joey Wendle: “Big heart teams get big heart wins.”
- The Marlins won their 51st game of the season, the most wins before the All-Star break in franchise history.
- A.J. Puk recorded a blown save and a win. Bittersweet?
- JACOB STALLINGS HIT A HOME RUN IN THIS GAME.
- After the game, Marlins PR informed us that Jonathan Davis‘s MRI revealed a meniscus injury. No tear. He will undergo surgery on Thursday. Unclear what the timetable for return is.
- It’s Eury Pérez on the mound in the series finale as the Marlins look to a four-game sweep.
- Kevin Barral and I will have your coverage, and Kevin will have the recap.
- To sweep or not to sweep, that is the question.
- ‘Til Tmrw!
Photo by Tony Capobianco/Five Reasons Sports
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