Marlins outfield defense key in another walk-off win

MIAMI, FL—If there's one thing that is evident through the first three games of the 2025 season, it's that the Miami Marlins will push teams all the way till the end. That's exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon as the Marlins trailed the Pittsburgh Pirates four separate times, but ultimately won in walk-off fashion by a final score of 5-4.

Griffin Conine didn't even start for the Marlins—he entered to pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. He would stay in the game, taking over in left field. In the top of the eighth, with the game tied at three, Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski hit a 103.7 mph ball over his head which looked surely gone off the bat and would've put the Pirates ahead, but Conine leapt over the left field wall and robbed Suwinski.

"Knew it was going to be right at the fence," said Conine following the game. "I thought for sure it was going to be out of my reach, but it kind of hung up for me, got close to the fence and pretty much jumped as high as I could and extended as high as I could and just like snow cone, barely in the webbing and somehow hung on."

When you think of Griffin Conine, you think of a 6'1," 210-pound slugger, but many sleep on his defense. In a limited sample size last season, Conine was way above the league average in defensive runs saved and is doing it again this season.

"I think that's something I worked really hard on," said Conine of his defense. "Early on in my career, like, out of college, I was mostly offensive-driven. That was my focus, that's what I worked on the most. Always had a good arm, but as far as the importance of getting jumps and reading the outfield and being able to go back on the ball and all that stuff, it takes a lot of work, some BP, timing and all that stuff, so it's cool when it shows up in games like this."

Conine wasn't the only Marlins outfielder who took runs off the scoreboard. Dane Myers threw Tommy Pham out at home in the top of the 12th to keep the game at four apiece. Myers recorded another outfield assist way back in the first inning. Through three games, the Marlins have three outfield assists, two coming from Myers and one from Conine in Friday's loss.

"I think we're just taking pride in doing the little things right," said Myers. "Usually, you don't see it pay off right away, but we focused on it in camp and it's cool to see results that early."

In the bottom of the 12th, with the bases loaded, Myers walked it off against Tim Mayza to give the Marlins their second win of the season and complete a 3-for-6 day for himself at the plate.

"Feels good. That's a game of baseball," said Myers. "Through the ups and downs, you just gotta stay ready for whatever. Like I said, I'm proud of myself for being mentally ready to handle whatever."

Otto Lopez continued to contribute across all aspects of the game. He was in the middle of the relay during Myers' first assist, had a 3-for-5 night with one RBI and stole a base. Overall in this series, Lopez has gone 5-for-11 with one home run, four RBI and only one strikeout.

"As we got into the middle part of spring training, Otto really started to elevate the ball," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. "Not really like a home run hitter, but the line drives, the quality of contact really seem to turn a corner, and we've seen that thus far."

In his season debut, Valente Bellozo gave the Marlins 4 ⅓ innings of work, allowing one run off of four hits, walking two and striking out four. The lone run that Bellozo surrendered came in the bottom of the first inning on a Jack Suwinski RBI double. After that, the Marlins starter shut out the Pirates offense.

Bellozo, who added a kick-change to his arsenal this offseason, featured it 12 times on Saturday, striking out Ji Hwan Bae swinging in the top of the third inning.

Following the game, Daniel Álvarez of El Extrabase reported that the Marlins have optioned Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville. This comes after the Marlins used seven arms (including Bellozo). A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to Sunday's game.

With the win, the Marlins move to 2-1 on the season and will look to take their first series of 2025. Max Meyer will make his highly anticipated 2025 debut against former Marlin Andrew Heaney. The Marlins will also induct Jeff Conine into the team's inaugural Hall of Fame class. The Conine ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm.