Marlins snap franchise-record 12-game skid with walk-off win over Phillies
Miami overcomes 7-5 deficit to defeat Philadelphia 8-7, halting a slide that saw the team’s offensive output drop to a .208 batting average.
The Miami Marlins have ended a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, securing an 8-7 walk-off victory against division rivals Philadelphia on Monday. Trailing 7-5 in the ninth inning, Miami mounted a three-run rally to snap the longest losing streak in the club’s history and prevent a fifth consecutive series sweep.
Griffin Conine singled in the winning run against Philadelphia closer Jhoan Duran, who entered the frame with a lead but loaded the bases with no outs. Heriberto Hernández had previously hit a tying single before racing home on Conine’s hit, sparking a celebration on the field. This marked Conine’s first career walk-off hit, adding to his first-inning home run earlier in the game.
Clayton McCullough described the team’s mood as a "sigh of relief" following the win, their first since defeating Seattle on July 9. McCullough referenced Christopher Nolan’s film "The Odyssey" as a metaphor for the prolonged misfortune, noting he felt like Odysseus away from home for 10 years. "I don’t know what baseball god I infuriated but it’s where we’re at, so today is an opportunity," McCullough said.
The unraveling began during a weekend home series against Cleveland prior to the All-Star break. During the 12-game skid, Miami’s offensive output dropped significantly, batting .208 with a .607 OPS. Outside of a 7-2 loss to San Diego on July 25, the Marlins had lost the other 11 games by three runs or less, including a 5-3 collapse against San Diego on Sunday.
Prior to the streak, the Marlins held the third spot in the National League wild-card race at 52-42, sitting three games behind NL East-leading Atlanta. The team had previously lost 11 consecutive games three times in franchise history, twice in 1998 and once in June 2011. Seven Marlins recorded hits on Monday, with six players achieving multiple hits, signaling a potential shift in momentum as the club looks to return to winning form.
