Marlins beat slumping Rangers 6-4 in 12 innings for fourth straight win
The Miami Marlins secured their fourth consecutive win with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the struggling Texas Rangers in a 12-inning showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Jakob Marsee and Brian Navaretto were the heroes of the night, both delivering crucial RBI doubles in the decisive 12th inning.
The Rangers, on the other hand, suffered their fifth consecutive loss and are now five games behind the Houston Astros for the final wild card spot in the American League with only eight games remaining in the regular season. The Astros, who swept the Rangers in a three-game series earlier in the week, currently hold the tiebreaker advantage over Texas after winning the season series.
The Marlins continued their impressive form, winning nine of their last 12 games. Javier Sanoja provided a spark off the bench with a pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh inning, marking Miami’s second consecutive game with a pinch-hit homer and their ninth overall this season.
Miami’s starting pitcher, Janson Junk, delivered a strong performance, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five batters over seven solid innings. Reliever George Soriano (2-0) was also instrumental in the victory, tossing two scoreless innings to shut down the Rangers’ offense.
On the other side, Rangers starter Tyler Mahle made a successful return from the 60-day injured list, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his first start since June 10. However, it was not enough to prevent Texas from falling to the Marlins.
After Marsee’s go-ahead double in the 12th inning, Navaretto and Dane Myers added RBI hits to extend Miami’s lead. The Marlins improved to 25-60 when their opponent scores first, 9-4 in extra-inning games, and 12-64 when trailing after six innings this season.
Looking ahead, RHP Adam Mazur (0-4, 4.85 ERA) is set to start for the Marlins in the continuation of the three-game series on Saturday. The Rangers have yet to announce their starting pitcher for the upcoming matchup.
In conclusion, the Marlins’ resilient performance and clutch hitting in extra innings secured a hard-fought victory over the Rangers, further solidifying their position as a team to watch in the closing stages of the season.
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