Marlins pounce on Wheeler, rally back in 9th to end 12-game skid

MIAMI -- If the Marlins wanted to snap their franchise-record skid at 12 games, they would need to get past longtime foe and National League Cy Young hopeful Zack Wheeler.

Entering Monday’s series opener, Wheeler had been undefeated in his last 10 starts against Miami dating back to 2022 (5-0 record, 2.87 ERA). This season alone, the Marlins had managed just one run in 12 innings spanning two of his starts.

Miami defied the odds, handing Wheeler his shortest start in four years (three innings) and tagging him for five runs -- his most since May 29, 2025.

But a baseball game doesn’t end that early and wins certainly don’t come that easily, especially for a floundering club.

The Marlins would blow a three-run lead in the sixth inning, then rally with three runs in the ninth for an 8-7 walk-off victory over the Phillies at loanDepot park. The win helped the Marlins avoid becoming the first Major League team to lose at least 13 in a row since the 2024 White Sox, who dropped 21 straight en route to the Modern Era record of 121 losses.

Trailing 7-5 in the ninth, Miami loaded the bases with no outs when Jakob Marsee and Otto Lopez singled and Kyle Stowers was hit by a pitch from closer Jhoan Duran.

Heriberto Hernández, who took Wheeler deep in the first for his team-leading 15th homer, sent a game-tying single up the middle. Xavier Edwards reached on a bunt hit to once again load the bases for Liam Hicks, who grounded into a forceout at home.

With the infield in, Griffin Conine lined the game winner past second baseman Bryson Stott’s glove for the first walk-off hit of his career.