Jesús Sánchez hit a three-run home run to complete a five-run rally in the ninth inning, leading the Miami Marlins to a surprising 9-8 comeback win against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
In a game between the National League’s two lowest teams, the Marlins were down 6-0 early and trailing by four runs going into the ninth. But they managed to score two runs with a double from Jake Burger before Sánchez hit his 17th homer off Angel Chivili.
“I was just thinking about the 97 (mph) fastball,” Sánchez said through a translator. “I was just waiting for it, then I reacted when I saw the changeup and connected with it. When I saw the ball in the air, I just started celebrating with my whole team.”
Burger mentioned that Marlins pitcher Valente Bellozo predicted Sánchez’s home run.
“He said, ‘Changeup and he’s gonna hit a three-run home run here,’” Burger said.
This was the largest deficit the Marlins have overcome this season, surpassing the five-run deficit they came back from in a win on April 30 against the Rockies.
Before this game, the Marlins had a 5-76 record when trailing after eight innings, while the Rockies were 41-8 when leading after eight. This was the Rockies’ biggest blown lead of the year.
“In this game, nothing’s predictable,” Colorado manager Bud Black said.
Kyle Stowers hit his second home run and first triple of the season for Miami. Griffin Conine, the son of longtime Marlins outfielder Jeff Conine, recorded his first two major league hits, a triple and a double, just one day after making his MLB debut.
“We’re resilient,” Burger said. “There’s a lot of guys out here who are trying to prove themselves at this level, going out there and taking really good at-bats. … It’s a lot of young guys, but a lot of guys that have a lot of talent.”
George Soriano (1-1) got the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Chivili (1-2) took the loss and was credited with his second blown save.
