Otto Lopez's clutch 8th-inning double leads the Marlins to a 5-3 win over the Twins on July 1, extending their winning streak to seven games. Recap the win!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you think this team has hit its peak, they find another gear. The Miami Marlins are officially the hottest team in baseball, capturing their seventh straight victory in dramatic fashion Tuesday night with a 5-3 comeback win against the Minnesota Twins. It was a night of clutch hitting, solid pitching, and a growing sense that something special is brewing in South Florida.
I just wanted to put the ball in play and help the team keep this streak going.
The game was deadlocked 3-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, a tense pitcher's duel that felt like it could go either way. Then, with the bases loaded, Otto Lopez stepped to the plate and delivered the biggest hit of the night—a screaming double that cleared the bases and sent LoanDepot Park into a frenzy. That was all the cushion closer Tanner Scott needed, as he shut the door in the ninth for his 18th save. Starter Edward Cabrera was brilliant, battling for 6.2 innings and striking out eight to earn his third win. It was a complete team victory, defined by one perfect, high-leverage swing.
This seven-game tear, where the Marlins have outscored opponents 41-22, isn't a fluke. It's being fueled by a dynamic young core. Lopez has been a revelation, now hitting .312, but he's not alone. Rookie catcher Agustín Ramírez continued his impressive campaign, launching a two-run homer and going 2-for-4. Add in Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s electrifying triple and two runs scored, and you see the formula: speed, power, and clutch play. As President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix said, it's a 'total team effort and belief in our young core,' and that belief is paying off in the win column.
The good news kept rolling in even before first pitch, as the Marlins activated outfielder Dane Myers from the injured list. Myers, who was hitting a solid .278 with 7 homers before an oblique strain sidelined him, brings another potent bat back to the lineup. To make room, Derek Hill was optioned to Triple-A. 'Dane brings energy and versatility to our outfield, and we're excited to have him back,' said manager Clayton McCullough. Adding Myers' bat to this already-hot lineup feels like pouring gasoline on a fire.
While the big-league club is firing on all cylinders, the future looks just as promising. The organization officially named top prospect Thomas White its Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year for his dominant 2024 campaign. White, with his 2.81 ERA and 120 strikeouts, has been virtually unhittable and is on the fast track, with a promotion to Double-A Pensacola expected after the All-Star break. His consistency, highlighted by a stretch of eight starts allowing one or fewer earned runs, is a tantalizing preview of what could be a future anchor for the Marlins' rotation.
Seven wins in a row has transformed the Marlins' season, injecting a powerful dose of confidence and excitement. With Myers back in the fold and the team clicking on all cylinders, the challenge now is to sustain this momentum. As the trade deadline approaches, the front office has some interesting decisions to make, but for now, fans can sit back and enjoy the ride. This team is playing with swagger, and they're not planning on stopping anytime soon.
