Rookie Jakob Marsee delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, and Eury Pérez gave the Miami Marlins another sharp outing on the mound. That combination was enough to hand the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-3 defeat on Sunday at loanDepot Park.
Marsee broke the game open in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded triple, and Pérez tossed six-plus innings of three-hit ball as Miami avoided a sweep. Eric Wagaman added a solo homer and scored twice, while Agustín Ramírez drove in a key insurance run in the seventh.
Pérez (6-3) allowed just two runs while striking out four and walking one. He exited in the seventh after surrendering a leadoff walk and single, and reliever Lake Bachar was greeted by Daulton Varsho’s three-run blast to center field. Varsho, who had struck out in his first two at-bats against Pérez, launched his 15th homer of the season — a 424-foot shot — to cut Miami’s lead to 4-3.
The Marlins responded quickly. In the bottom half of the inning, Ramírez lined an RBI single off Toronto reliever Yariel Rodríguez to restore a two-run cushion.
Toronto threatened again in the eighth when Bachar issued back-to-back two-out walks to Nathan Lukes and Bo Bichette. Miami manager Skip Schumaker turned to Ronny Henriquez, who induced Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to pop out in foul territory. Guerrero was making his first appearance of the series after missing four games with hamstring inflammation.
Tyler Phillips retired the side in order in the ninth to secure his second save.
Wagaman put Miami ahead with his solo shot in the third, while Marsee’s bases-clearing triple in the fifth extended the lead to 4-0. The 23-year-old rookie also doubled and scored a run, continuing his torrid start since being called up Aug. 1. He has 17 extra-base hits and 23 RBI in just 23 games.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (8-10) took the loss despite striking out seven over six innings. He gave up four runs and seven hits.
Before the game, the Marlins honored franchise great Luis Castillo with induction into the club’s Hall of Fame. Castillo, a three-time All-Star second baseman, played 10 seasons in Miami and was part of both World Series championship teams in 1997 and 2003.
Marsee’s bases-loaded triple in the fifth turned a tight game into a comfortable lead for Miami. Marsee has produced nearly an RBI per game since joining the majors, with 23 RBI in 23 games.
The Blue Jays return home to face the Minnesota Twins on Monday. Toronto sends RHP Max Scherzer (4-2, 3.60 ERA) to the mound against Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (12-6, 2.77).
The Marlins continue their homestand with a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves. RHP Edward Cabrera (6-7, 3.52) will start Monday’s opener. The Braves have not yet announced a starter.
