Kyle Stowers delivered the most dramatic swing of the Miami Marlins’ season so far, launching a two-out, walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun the Athletics, 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at loanDepot park.
Facing A’s fireballer Mason Miller, one of baseball’s most electric closers, Stowers turned around a 101.7 mph fastball and sent it deep into the left-center seats to cap a five-run rally and seal the Marlins’ comeback victory. It was his second home run of the game — and his second multi-homer effort in the last three games — giving him six on the season.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Stowers said postgame. “With two outs, just trying to put a good swing on something. I knew he had elite stuff, but I was ready for the heater.”
The Marlins were down to their final out and trailed 6-4 when the ninth inning began. Miller (0-1), who had allowed just one earned run all season entering the game, hit Matt Mervis with his first pitch. After two quick strikeouts, Javier Sanoja doubled, and a wild pitch to Ronny Simon brought Mervis home to cut it to 6-5. A walk to Xavier Edwards set the stage for Stowers’ heroics.
The clutch swing halted Miami’s six-game losing streak and gave them a much-needed jolt after a rough stretch. Lake Bachar (2-0) earned the win in relief after a perfect top of the ninth in which he struck out the side.
Stowers also tied the game in the third inning with a two-run shot off A’s starter Osvaldo Bido, who gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. Stowers had previously gone deep twice in Wednesday’s 12-7 loss to the Dodgers.
Athletics got homers from Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, and Luis Urías. The A’s built a 4-2 lead in the fourth on Urías’ two-run homer off Max Meyer and reclaimed a 5-4 edge in the sixth on Nick Kurtz’s sacrifice fly. Gio Urshela added insurance with an RBI double in the eighth.
Meyer struggled in his first home start since striking out a career-high 14 on April 21. The right-hander gave up five runs on 10 hits and recorded no strikeouts in five-plus innings.
Javier Sanoja sparked the Marlins’ offense with two hits, two runs scored, and a key double in the ninth. Edwards chipped in with a sacrifice fly and steady defense.
Stowers’ grand slam off Miller, one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the league, on a two-out, two-strike count — the Marlins’ backs were against the wall.
Meyer recorded zero strikeouts after fanning 14 in his last home outing, highlighting the inconsistency in his young season.
The series wraps up Sunday, with Athletics JP Sears (4-2, 2.94 ERA) taking the mound against Miami’s Edward Cabrera (0-1, 7.23 ERA).
