MIAMI -- “It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish” is not only a saying that Marlins outfielder Jesús Sánchez likes, but it is also one he hopes to fulfill.

Sánchez went deep in Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Braves at loanDepot park for the first time since being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. Though Miami kept it close, Atlanta clinched its fifth consecutive National League East crown.

“Doesn't matter seven, five, two games left; my plan was to take advantage of those last games and finish strong and just take that with me,” Sánchez said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “It's right here in my hand right now.”

When Sánchez sent a middle-middle fastball from Jake Odorizzi over the left-field wall in the fourth inning for a game-tying run, he became just the fourth left-handed-hitting Marlin to knock an opposite-field homer in the ballpark’s history. Sánchez is also only the fourth lefty batter to do so this season, joining household names Bryce Harper (Phillies), Matt Olson (Braves) and Corey Seager (Rangers).

That type of pop isn’t surprising considering Sánchez blasted into orbit a 496-foot long ball at Coors Field on May 30, the farthest homer for most of 2022. His maximum exit velocity (114.7 mph) ranks in the 96th percentile in the Majors. What is encouraging is the possibility Sánchez, who walked in his first plate appearance, is adjusting to what pitchers are doing and is gameplanning better.

“Like he maybe was anticipating something out there and was willing to go over there,” manager Don Mattingly said, “so I think that's a good sign. He's got that kind of power. That's not a surprise with him doing that. I think it's a better sign that he maybe anticipated that pitch out there and tried to stay out over the plate.”

In Monday’s series opener, Sánchez recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season, and his first since June 1. He sprayed the ball across the field: an RBI double to left, a double to right and a lefty-on-lefty single to center against Tyler Matzek. The trio of hits also came on three pitch types: a cutter, a changeup and a four-seamer, respectively.

“I'm a person who looks for fastballs,” Sánchez said. “I was looking for [a] fastball, and I was able to make contact. I like to play around the field, all the other spots of the field. So when I make contact, I saw the ball leaving and can't believe it. I was a very, very happy man.

“I recognize I'm a player with a lot of power and good contact. All I have to do is just keep swinging and making contact, and home runs will come.”

Though Sánchez, who turns 25 on Friday, wants to finish the season strong, he did also start off hot. Miami didn’t bring in a natural center fielder, so he opened 2022 at that position without any prior MLB experience. The experiment worked for three weeks (a .851 OPS), but over the next 75 games from April 30-Aug. 2, he slashed .181/.246/.352.

That lack of production led to his demotion to Triple-A on Aug. 4, a move that Sánchez took in stride, given that he knew he wasn’t producing. Miami recalled him on Thursday, and he has since started four of its six games. After rebuilding his confidence, Sánchez aims to take it into the offseason.

So often September performance can fool organizations into future decisions. But Sánchez’s potential is enticing. Can Miami count on Sánchez -- and even Bryan De La Cruz, who has a 1.158 OPS in 24 games since being recalled -- moving forward? It would be a gamble for a club that lost its 93rd game on Tuesday.

“I think [the] consistency of that is really going to be the key," Mattingly said pregame. "But obviously Jesús is very talented. This guy's got a chance to make a big impact on your club because of just the power he has and what he can do physically. So if he could be consistent with that approach, he could be a big deal. Just adding the guys we talked about [like] with [Jorge] Soler, and if you would add Sanchy being consistent all year long, and De La being consistent all year long. 

“All of a sudden your lineup looks a lot different. You’ve got guys hitting down in that seven, eight spot, and it's just a different look. So I think it's very important for the organization if Sanchy can have that consistency. I don't think we've seen two games or three games [and think], ‘He's the real deal now, he's going to be great.’ But I think we always know that there's a chance for him to be great because of the ability.”