Pinch-hitter Graham Pauley delivered the decisive blow in a dramatic four-run eighth inning, lifting the Miami Marlins to a rain-delayed 7–6 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday and snapping New York’s four-game winning streak in the series finale.
The game, which began after a 3-hour, 35-minute rain delay, turned late when Miami capitalized on control issues from the Yankees’ bullpen. With one out in the eighth inning and New York holding a 4–3 lead, relievers Fernando Cruz and Jake Bird (1–1) issued consecutive walks before Bird hit pinch-hitter Griffin Conine to load the bases. Pauley followed by ripping a sweeper into the gap for a go-ahead two-run double, putting Miami ahead 5–4.
Moments later, Xavier Edwards added breathing room with a two-run single through a drawn-in infield against Ryan Yarbrough, completing the Marlins’ four-run rally and shifting momentum decisively.
Miami reliever John King (1–0) helped set the stage earlier by escaping a two-on jam in the seventh inning. In the ninth, Anthony Bender worked through late trouble to secure his second save, allowing a two-out, two-run double to Jazz Chisholm Jr. before striking out pinch-hitter J.C. Escarra with two runners on to end the game.
Yankees starter Max Fried, who entered the afternoon with 13⅓ consecutive scoreless innings, pitched effectively into the seventh. He allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 6⅔ innings, aided by two overturned calls via sixth-inning video reviews that helped preserve New York’s narrow lead at the time.
However, the Yankees’ bullpen missing closer David Bednar after his 33-pitch outing Saturday and without setup men Tim Hill and Brent Headrick, who had both pitched the previous two days could not hold the advantage.
New York finished just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 6-for-38 in the series in those situations.
The Yankees jumped out quickly behind Ben Rice, who continued his hot stretch with a three-run homer in the first inning off Pete Fairbanks, making a rare start so he could return home for the expected birth of his child Monday. The blast was Rice’s third home run in four games.
Despite the early surge, New York struggled to convert opportunities later in the game even after drawing 30 walks during the three-game series, setting a new franchise record and surpassing the previous mark of 28 set against the Chicago White Sox from May 10–12, 1934.
Miami also excelled in the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, successfully overturning 10 of 11 calls during the series before losing two challenges in the ninth inning Sunday.
Elsewhere in the organization, Yankees right-hander Luis Gil allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over 4⅔ innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a rehab outing and is expected to rejoin the major-league rotation for his next start. Prospect Spencer Jones highlighted the RailRiders’ day with a grand slam.
With the win, the Marlins improved to 6–3 and salvaged the finale of the three-game set, while the Yankees fell to 7–2 on the young season.
The Marlins open a homestand Monday with right-hander Janson Junk (0–0) scheduled to face left-hander Brandon Williamson (0–1) and the Cincinnati Reds.
The Yankees return home Tuesday night, where right-hander Cam Schlittler (2–0) is set to start the opener of a new series against the Oakland Athletics and Aaron Civale (1–0).
