Marlins Make History with 7-3 Victory Over Yankees
Kyle Stowers launched a three-run homer, propelling the Miami Marlins to a historic 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday, marking the franchise's first-ever sweep of the storied team.
With this win, the Marlins (55-55) completed a three-game series sweep against the Yankees (60-52), reaching the .500 mark for the first time since April 15. This remarkable turnaround makes them the first major league team to recover from being 16 or more games under .500 to achieving a .500 record since the Tampa Bay Rays did so in 2014.
Stowers' pivotal moment came in the fourth inning when he connected on an 0-2 fastball from Brent Headrick, who had just entered the game with two runners on base after starter Luis Gil (0-1) was removed after 3 1/3 innings in his season debut.
Gil, last year's AL Rookie of the Year, struggled in his return from a high-grade lat strain, allowing five runs and five hits while striking out three and walking four over 77 pitches.
On the other side, Marlins starter Edward Cabrera (5-5) delivered an impressive performance, tossing six innings of two-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one. His only misstep occurred against Trent Grisham, who hit Cabrera's 98.1 mph four-seam fastball for a home run on the very first pitch he faced.
Jakob Marsee, making his major league debut just days prior, showcased his talent with a 2-for-4 performance, falling just a single short of completing the cycle.
In the seventh inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a two-run homer off Josh Simpson, narrowing the gap to 6-3 as chants of "Let's go Yankees!" filled loanDepot Park. However, Marsee quickly responded by hitting an RBI triple to center field in the bottom half, extending Miami's lead back to four runs.
Xavier Edwards contributed with two hits, including an RBI single, while Troy Johnston added a run-scoring double to the mix.
Before the game, the Marlins paid tribute to former manager Jack McKeon, who at 94 years old led Miami to its 2003 World Series victory over the Yankees.
Historically, Miami holds a 24-24 record against the Yankees across all matchups, including postseason play, making them the only franchise against which New York does not maintain a winning record.
Looking ahead, Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (6-9, 6.36) is set to pitch in the opener of a three-game series against the Houston Astros. Meanwhile, Yankees LHP Max Fried (12-4, 2.62) will take the mound for New York in their series opener against the Texas Rangers.
