Jesús Sánchez delivered in the clutch on Tuesday night, lining a walk-off single up the middle with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to lift the Miami Marlins to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at loanDepot park.
With the score tied 4-4, automatic runner Xavier Edwards began the bottom of the 10th on second base. Dodgers reliever J.P. Feyereisen (0-2) intentionally walked Kyle Stowers, then allowed a single to Agustin Ramirez to load the bases. Facing a five-man infield, Sánchez stayed composed and ripped a liner into center to bring home Edwards and secure Miami’s fifth walk-off win of the season.
“It was a great moment,” Sánchez said. “I just wanted to stay relaxed and get a pitch I could handle. Thankfully, it worked out.”
Jesús Tinoco (2-0) earned the win for the Marlins after throwing two scoreless innings of relief.
The Dodgers, who had won eight of their last nine coming in, got solo home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the sixth inning off Marlins reliever Anthony Veneziano to erase a 2-1 Miami lead. But the Marlins answered immediately in the bottom half with an RBI double from Connor Norby and a run-scoring single by Dane Myers to retake the lead, 4-3.
Ohtani came through again in the seventh with an RBI double to tie the game at 4. But a critical decision by the Marlins prevented further damage. With Ohtani on third and two bases open, Miami chose to pitch to the red-hot Freeman. Calvin Faucher struck him out swinging to end the threat.
Freeman finished 2-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He’s now 19-for-42 with four homers and 14 RBI during the streak. His home run Tuesday night was the 42nd of his career against the Marlins, surpassing Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard for the most by any player against Miami.
The Marlins initially took control in the fifth when Liam Hicks crushed a two-run homer off Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin, giving Miami a 2-1 lead. Gonsolin struck out eight and allowed four hits and two runs over five innings. Miami starter Cal Quantrill matched him with five solid frames, allowing one run on four hits and six strikeouts.
The Dodgers have yet to name a starter for Wednesday’s series finale. The Marlins will send right-hander Valente Bellozo (0-2, 4.97 ERA) to the mound.
