Marlins' 8-game win streak ends in a 2-1 loss to the Twins on July 2, 2025, after a bizarre umpire interference call costs Jesús Sánchez the tying run.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
All good things must come to an end, but this one stings. The Marlins' incredible eight-game winning streak was snapped Wednesday night in a nail-biting 2-1 loss to the Twins, a game that will be remembered for its razor-thin margins and one bizarre, game-altering moment of umpire interference.
The tying run was on its way home until the ball glanced off base umpire Emil Jimenez, forcing Jesús Sánchez back to third in a cruel twist of fate.
Despite a solid outing from starter Janson Junk, who battled through six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing just two runs, the Marlins' bats were mostly silenced. The game's pivotal and most frustrating moment came in the sixth. With two outs, Jesús Sánchez ripped a double and was waved home on what looked like a game-tying single, but the ball deflected off the umpire, forcing Sánchez back to third. The threat fizzled, and so did the Marlins' best chance to even the score. The team threatened again in the seventh, loading the bases, but a flyout and a perfect throw to the plate cut down the tying run, sealing Miami's fate.
The lone bright spot on an otherwise frustrating night was the continued power surge of Kyle Stowers. He provided Miami's only run with a solo shot in the fifth inning, his 15th of the year and his second in as many games. After a 31-game homerless drought earlier this season, Stowers has now launched five long balls in his last nine games. His bat has been a driving force behind the team's recent success, and even in a loss, his resurgence is a massive positive for this offense.
There's no time to dwell on what could have been. The Marlins have an immediate chance to wash away the bad taste and take the series on Thursday afternoon. The team will send young flamethrower Eury Pérez (0-2, 6.19 ERA) to the mound for the rubber match. Pérez is still searching for his first win of the season and will face Minnesota's David Festa (2-2, 5.40 ERA). A series win on the road after such a tough loss would be a huge statement and prove the recent winning streak was no fluke.
Last night's loss was a tough pill to swallow, defined by a 'what if' moment that will have fans talking for days. But the eight-game winning streak showed what this team is capable of. Now, with Eury Pérez on the hill, the Marlins have a chance to prove their resilience, take the series, and start a new streak. Let's see if they can turn the page and get it done.
