After a difficult stretch on the road, the Miami Marlins returned to loanDepot Park last week looking for more than just wins. They needed a reset.
Three games later, they had exactly that.
Miami completed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on Sunday with a 6-2 victory, their 41st win of the season in their home ballpark. The weekend surge kept the Marlins in contention for the National League’s final Wild-Card berth. And even with Monday night’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, Miami is still in a tight race that also includes the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Headed into Tuesday’s game against Boston, the Marlins are 67-65, thanks in part to an 8-1 mark against Washington, which came to Miami at the right time. The weekend sweep also secured a winning record at loanDepot park with more than a month remaining in the regular season.
So, even though the Red Sox stopped the winning streak on Monday, the Marlins are still playing with confidence down the stretch.
“I think we needed a win like this after the results on the road,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Sunday. “We feel comfortable at home, the atmosphere here is different.”
Miami has built much of its season around its ability to compete at home, and the series against Washington once again showed why. The Marlins combined timely hitting with a pitching staff that consistently kept the Nationals within reach, winning tightly-contested games by scores of 3-2, 4-2 and 6-2.
The sweep also came against a Washington team that entered the series struggling, having lost 10 of its previous 12 games. But Miami did what it needed to do.
HERNÁNDEZ CONTINUES HIS BREAKOUT SEASON
One of the clearest examples of Miami’s ability to find answers throughout the season has been Heriberto Hernández. The Dominican Republic native has transformed himself into one of the Marlins’ most dangerous offensive pieces after a difficult start to the season.
The outfielder struggled early, eventually being sent to Triple-A Jacksonville in April. After returning to Miami on May 7, however, his production began to change dramatically. Since his recall, and through Sunday’s win, Hernández has an .815 OPS, and his power has increasingly become one of the most reliable sources of offense in the Marlins’ lineup.
On Saturday vs. Washington, Hernández launched his team-leading 19th home run of the season in Miami’s 4-2 victory. The 393-foot shot to left field gave the Marlins an early 3-0 advantage and continued what has been an increasingly impactful stretch for the 26-year-old left fielder. A day later, Hernández was involved in the scoring again, opening the game with a double that eventually allowed Agustín Ramírez to score.
His importance to Miami, however, extends beyond one weekend.
Hernández has repeatedly delivered in important moments throughout the season, providing home runs, extra-base hits and timely at-bats that have helped the Marlins turn close games in their favor. His turnaround has also been a reflection of the team’s larger ability to develop and rely on players who have had to make adjustments throughout the season.
“I think, first of all, it was about gaining confidence, you know? When I was sent down, the season was just starting.” Hernández said about his mentality switch. “I think I gained confidence, and I also drew confidence from the support everyone here has given me. And, well, it’s important to show up every day with a positive mindset; that’s helped me, too. No matter what, no matter how many games are left, it’s just about focusing on winning the day – winning every at-bat and taking advantage of whatever the other team does.”
That evolution could become increasingly important as Miami enters the final month of the season.
PITCHING KEEPING MIAMI WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
While Hernández and the offense have supplied some of the biggest moments, Miami’s starting pitching has continued to provide the foundation for the team’s standing. Eury Pérez offered another example Saturday.
Pérez allowed three hits and two runs — only one earned — over five innings against Washington while striking out four. Since returning from injury on June 24, Pérez has posted a 1.80 ERA, giving the Marlins another dependable arm as they navigate the stretch run.
The Miami starters do not always need to pitch deep into games to give the team a chance. Their ability to limit damage through the first several innings has allowed the offense to remain within striking distance and given the bullpen opportunities to protect leads.
On Sunday, Janson Junk held Washington to one run over 4 2/3 innings before McCullough turned to Michael Petersen with two runners on base and the game tied. Petersen immediately faced a high-leverage situation, inherited the jam, and helped Miami escape without allowing Washington to take control.
Petersen has quietly become one of the most dependable pieces of Miami’s bullpen, repeatedly being called upon in situations where one pitch can change the game. His ability to enter with runners on base, limit the damage and keep the game moving has given McCullough another weapon during the stretch run.
Petersen earned Sunday’s win after recording the final out of the fifth inning and stranding the bases-loaded threat.
“It’s never the ideal situation, but it’s really fun to come into a game and sit down after you’re done and be like ‘I did a good day’s work’,” Peterson said. “I think it’s what actually matters. We want to help. We do the work in the bullpen.”
MAJOR IMPLICATIONS LIE AHEAD IN SEPTEMBER
Sunday’s victory was not simply the final win of a three-game series. It was a reminder of what Miami can look like when its pitching, defense and offense come together at the right time.
Xavier Edwards provided the biggest hit of the afternoon, breaking a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Joe Mack added an RBI double in the sixth and another RBI in the eighth, while Otto López contributed a sacrifice fly.
Miami also continued to show discipline at the plate. Four of the Marlins’ six runs came from players who had reached base via walks, an approach McCullough emphasized after the game.
But baseball is a daily game, and things can change quickly. Monday’s loss to the Red Sox suddenly puts added emphasis on the rest of the series, starting Tuesday night with Boston’s Payton Tolle taking on Miami’s Tyler Phillips at 6:40 p.m. ET.
While the road ahead remains difficult, Miami will try to keep its postseason hopes alive. The weekend sweep offered something just as valuable as the three wins: A reminder that the postseason is still within reach.
