On Aug 9, 2025, Braves beat the Marlins 7-1 as Michael Harris II launched a 3-run HR and Hurston Waldrep tossed six strong in MLB’s first female plate-ump game.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Baseball made history in Atlanta on Saturday, but the scoreboard wasn’t kind to Miami. In the first MLB game ever officiated by a female umpire behind home plate, the Braves beat the Marlins 7-1 at Truist Park, riding a Michael Harris II three-run homer in the seventh and six stingy innings from Hurston Waldrep. Xavier Edwards’ RBI single that scored Javier Sanoja provided Miami’s lone tally, while starter Ryan Gusto labored early. The loss stung, but the night also carried perspective—both in the significance of the moment and in the signs of what’s still possible for a Marlins club trying to climb back into the Wild Card race.
First in MLB history: a female umpire worked behind home plate tonight in Atlanta.
This one will be remembered for the plate, even more than the result. The first female home-plate umpire in MLB history worked tonight’s game, a milestone the Marlins embraced with class on and off the field. Between the lines, Atlanta controlled the rhythm. Ryan Gusto struggled to find a foothold early, and when Michael Harris II unloaded a three-run shot in the seventh, a tight game became an uphill sprint. Hurston Waldrep did the rest, locating and mixing enough to keep Miami off-balance. The Fish scratched across a run in the sixth when Xavier Edwards punched a single to score Javier Sanoja, but traffic was rare and rallies were shorter than they needed to be.
Before the series, manager Clayton McCullough called these games vital for the playoff push and spotlighted the need for more run support—especially with Sandy Alcantara lined up in this set. Saturday didn’t offer the response he wanted, but the message hasn’t changed: keep games within reach, cash in the few openings you get against top pitching, and let your frontline arms carry you. Miami entered the night 57-58 and 5.5 games back in the Wild Card. The path is still there, but the urgency is non-negotiable now, particularly against an Atlanta lineup that punishes mistakes late.
If you’re searching for spark, Jakob Marsee keeps bringing matches. In just his first three career games, the rookie outfielder has already carved out a franchise first: four extra-base hits and four walks. The approach travels—he’s controlling counts, spitting on pitcher’s pitches, and turning mistakes into damage. Beyond the box score, Marsee’s defensive versatility gives McCullough latitude to optimize matchups without sacrificing outfield coverage. In a lineup that’s been searching for length, he’s quickly becoming a tone-setter.
Miami added right-handed reliever Tyler Zuber to the active roster Saturday, bolstering a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily of late. Zuber joins Friday’s promotions—George Soriano and Cade Gibson—as the club looks to stack depth for the stretch run. The immediate goal: shorten games for a rotation in flux, create cleaner bridges to the late innings, and give McCullough more matchup options when a lineup like Atlanta’s cycles back to the top.
The organization’s pipeline served notice this week. The DSL Marlins lead their league in home runs (26), while DSL Miami tops it in stolen bases (100). Both teams have already surpassed their 2024 totals, and the DSL Marlins just hung a 29-spot—one of the most lopsided wins you’ll find in modern Minor League history. It’s not just fun; it’s a signal. The system is producing athletes with carry tools, and that depth will matter if the big club needs reinforcements down the stretch—or chips in future deals.
A good franchise never loses its thread, and the Marlins tugged on the best kind Saturday by inducting Jack McKeon into the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame. The 2003 World Series manager reflected on rolling the dice with Josh Beckett on short rest to close it out and on first glimpsing a teenage Miguel Cabrera. For a current club trying to write its own October chapter, the reminder was timely: bold decisions, belief in your horses, and the little developmental wins that turn into big-stage moments.
The Marlins’ feed leaned into the history, and players followed. Xavier Edwards and Sandy Alcantara posted congratulations to the trailblazing plate umpire, a nod that resonated beyond the final score. The team also amplified Jakob Marsee’s early-career stat line, which has quickly become appointment viewing for fans looking for silver linings and future cornerstones.
What’s next: The series rolls on with Sandy Alcantara slated to take the ball in this set, and the Marlins needing early offense to flip the script. Watch for Jakob Marsee to stay near the top of the order to jumpstart rallies, and keep an eye out for Tyler Zuber’s first look in teal as McCullough tests new bullpen combinations. The formula is straightforward—score first, support the ace, and let the revamped relief corps protect a lead. There’s time to make a run, but the clock just ticked a little louder in Atlanta.
