TAMPA, FL – Today, the home crowd packed the seats at the ballpark. Evan Longoria signed a one-day contract with the Tampa Bay Rays for his retirement ceremony. Longoria got to throw out the first pitch as well. Regardless of who they were rooting for, the fans in attendance certainly got their money’s worth. It was a back-and-forth contest, but the Miami Marlins would go on to split the series in a shootout victory in extras over the Rays.
Today’s win was the 11th consecutive game for the Marlins, which was decided by two runs or less. It was also the fourth straight decided by a single run. For the Marlins, their shootout victory in extras over the Rays also became their highest-scoring game of the season.
Regarding the win, manager Clayton McCullough said
“So many guys contributed. [That was] a real team effort today. And I think also, just the resiliency, to come to hang in there when it could have gone the other way early, to fight back and find a way to win. That’s a good day for us.”
Ryan Weathers gets into unfortunate trouble
Before the game even started, Ryan Weathers instantly became the topic of concern. Just as he was warming up with Nick Fortes, Fortes threw the ball back in Weathers’ direction. Weathers, unfortunately, had his head facing in the opposite direction. Unaware of the ball coming at him, it pinned him right in the head. The ball was a blind spot for him, and he instantly fell to the ground.
“It’s definitely a first, obviously, it’s like it’s just unfortunate, but I’m glad it hit the top of my head and not the back of my head so that’s something positive.”
Ouch. After Ryan Weathers finished his final warm up pitch, Nick Fortes drilled him in the head.
Weathers remains in the game. pic.twitter.com/qT7LHFR9wd
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) June 7, 2025
Weathers would remain in the game, but later in the game, it was clear something was up with the lefty. Ryan Weathers normally hits the mid-90s, but he was only topping out in the low-90s.
Come the 2nd inning, the Rays would get on the board first. It all started with Junior Caminero reaching first due to a popup error by Xavier Edwards. Caminero would reach third after Jake Mangum hit a sac bunt. Then, Weathers would lose the full-count battle with Jose Caballero, issuing him a walk. Then came Christopher Morel. He caused the first piece of damage in the game with a three-run home run.
The Rays weren’t finished yet. Danny Jansen hit a double into center field, and Taylor Wells connected with his double. It had just started, and the game was feeling out of hand already.
Ryan Weathers had a short day at work, and it’s possible the shot he took in the head had something to do with it.
Ryan Weathers' afternoon is done
3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
57-36 NP-S
It makes you wonder if him getting pinned by the ball before the game had any factor in this early exit #Marlins
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
Marlins offense comes alive in the 3rd inning
Quickly in a 4-0 hole at the top of the 3rd inning, the Marlins were looking for someone to get on base at the very least. The first few batters did just that. Dane Myers and Nick Fortes each got singles, and Connor Norby grounded into a force out. With one out, the Marlins had two men on base with Xavier Edwards at the plate. Edwards created a clutch moment, hitting a double into left field to score Norby.
Miami was just getting started. Next batter up and Jesus Sanchez made his statement in the game. The left-handed hitting outfielder hit a long home run to right field. The fans at George M. Steinbrenner Field went from eruptive applauses to the sound of boos quickly. It was already looking like a lost afternoon for the Marlins, and they were able to switch the narrative.
Jesús Sánchez had an exit velocity of 107.3 mph and a 32 degree launch angle with this homer#Marlins
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
Rays respond right back
It didn’t take long for the Rays to get back on track. Ronny Henriquez instantly found himself in a ruckus. Christopher Morel hit a double, and then Danny Jansen drove him in with a two-run shot into left field. At this point, with both starting pitchers done for the day, it was clear that this was going to be a high-scoring contest.
Jan-send it
🗳️: https://t.co/xd21pMuMpf pic.twitter.com/Upn5JHhBWA
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 7, 2025
Marlins plate six in the 5th
The scoring fest for the Marlins in the inning got started with a base on balls for Connor Norby. From there, Nick Fortes singled and then Xavier Edwards drove in Norby on a groundball single. The Rays then pulled Taj Bradley and brought in Mason Montgomery. Not that it made much of a difference because the Marlins were just getting started.
From there, Jesus Sanchez hit a double that drove in both Fortes and Edwards. In a 7-6 game, the Marlins retook the lead. By then, Sanchez had five RBI in this contest. Up next, Otto Lopez singled and then stole a base. With just one out, the Fish had two men on base.
With both pitchers knocked out of the game early, you get the impression that this game will feature a lot of back-and-forth#Marlins pic.twitter.com/T9qLm4thOa
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
Liam Hicks stepped up to the plate and took care of business. He hit a fly ball to left field that dropped for a double, scoring two more runs.
Liam Hicks bloops a double into left field. What should've been a catch for the Rays turns into two #Marlins runs. 9-6 game.pic.twitter.com/409ZfC24WI
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
The Marlins would then go on to crack the 10-run mark for the third time this season. Dane Myers would plate in Hicks with a double.
#Marlins crack the 10-run mark for the third time this season thanks to this double by Dane Myers. We're still in the 5th inning. pic.twitter.com/khwGiCOUnM
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
Home runs coming in bunches for the Rays
The Rays dug their way back into the game. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Christopher Morel hit a solo home run. It was his second one of the afternoon and his second career multi-homerun game.
The next man up was Danny Jansen. Already with a home run in the ballgame, he got on base with a hit. After him came Taylor Walls. Walls isn’t much of a home run threat, but he did just that to make it a 10-9 contest. The comeback for Tampa Bay was already starting to build up. After these home runs were given up, Tyler Phillips was taken out of the game as the Marlins made the call to the bullpen, bringing in Anthony Bender.
WonderWalls
🗳️: https://t.co/xd21pMuMpf pic.twitter.com/f3Nq50udfo
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 7, 2025
With Brandon Lowe batting in the 7th inning, he would go on to join the list of Rays batters with home runs today. His solo home run would go on to make this a 10-10 game.
Extra inning heroics
Not all heroes wear capes.
In the 10th inning, one team had to claim victory in this game eventually. Heriberto Hernandez did the job as he was able to add this enormous RBI under his belt in his young major league career.
Heriberto Hernandez comes through for the #Marlins as they retake the lead here in the 10th inningpic.twitter.com/TVAQ15Rmdk
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) June 7, 2025
Hernandez wasn’t the only hero for the Marlins in extra innings. With a man on third base, Caballero was at the plate, and he hit a groundball toward Xavier Edwards. Edwards made an impactful throw to home and Nick Fortes was able to tag Kameron Misner out at the plate. The Rays challenged the call, but the replay clearly showed the runner being out.
Edwards, when asked about the shift back to second base,
“I already feel pretty confident about my second base play. I played in most of my professional career. So I would say I’m pretty comfortable there to begin with, and I’m glad I get to show up on a daily basis.”
Wrap up
The Marlins won this game 11-10, and you can see they adjusted offensively from yesterday’s game. This game simply boiled down to which team had more hits with runners on base. The Marlins won the hits battle 13-9. They also went 9-for-13 with runners in scoring position and only left two runners on base. The Rays, on the other hand, were 3-for-7 with four runners on base. If it were a lower-scoring game, that wouldn’t be a bad outcome. However, the Marlins were just able to capitalize all day.
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