The Marlins are most likely not going to make the playoffs but at least we know they haven’t given up, they are still trying to win games. And although they probably needed to win all 3 games of this series to have any real chance, at least they won 2, which is more than I expected. Lets take a look at each game.

Game 1: Carroll walks it off, Fairbanks hurt again

This one got away late. The Marlins led 3-0 after two, thanks to back-to-back homers from Javier Sanoja and Jakob Marsee, and were still up 7-4 heading into the eighth. Zuber gave up a two-run homer to Jordan Lawlar to make it 7-6, and then in the ninth, Fairbanks walked the leadoff man, threw one more pitch, and left the game with an injury again. It seems it was the same injury that he had twice already this season and that was most likely his last time pitching for the Marlins. Jack Ralston came in and Corbin Carroll made him pay with a two-run walk-off homer, sending Arizona to an 8-7 win. Sandy had another bad outing on this one, 4 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings with 6 strikeouts, but the Marlins were still in front until the bullpen decided to blow it. Rough way to open the series.

Game 2: Ruiz breaks a marathon open in the 11th

This game was a grind. Arizona took the lead early with a homer in the first inning and then Griffin Conine tied it up with a solo shot in the fourth. After that nobody was really able to do anything, it was pretty much a pitchers duel. Miami finally broke through in the 11th when Esteury Ruiz cleared the bases with a three-run double, and Josh Ekness closed it out for a 4-2 win. Great response after blowing the lead the night before.

Game 3: Sandy gets the save

This was a wild one. Just two days after throwing 101 pitches as a starter, Sandy came out of the bullpen for the ninth inning and picked up his first career save, getting two outs before a walk brought the tying run to the plate. It didn’t matter, Jordan Lawlar got thrown out trying to steal second to end it, and the Marlins held on for a 4-3 win. Jakob Marsee provided the offense with a two-run homer, and Gusto was decent, allowing 8 hits and 2 runs over less than 5 innings, but the bullpen and Sandy’s emergency appearance made it hold up. Genuinely one of the more fun ways to close out a series all year. Also just to go back to Marsee for a second, he has been amazing lately, and really for most of the second half of the season. I just wish he had figured it our earlier in the season and that would have greatly helped the Marlins.

The bigger picture

Miami is 76-77 now with 9 games to go, and yes, technically still alive, but it would take an enormous collapse from multiple teams ahead of them for this to actually matter. Still, taking a series from a legitimate playoff contender, and doing it with your ace closing it out on short rest, is a nice way to play out the string. If they want any chance at the playoffs they have to start by sweeping the Padres in this upcoming series. They can’t afford to lose a single game, which probably means that they will not be making the playoffs this year.

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