Pinch hitter Graham Pauley delivered a clutch two-run double with the bases loaded against Jake Bird to lead the Miami Marlins to a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees after a long rain delay on Sunday. The Marlins erupted for four runs in the eighth inning to secure the win.
Key Moments in the Game
The game started with a lengthy rain delay of 3 hours and 35 minutes, which contributed to a slow start. The Yankees initially led 4-1, but the Marlins mounted a comeback, chipping away at the deficit.
Pauley’s go-ahead double in the eighth inning off Jake Bird (1-1) gave the Marlins a 5-4 lead. Xavier Edwards, who had driven in three runs, followed with a two-run single off Ryan Yarbrough, extending the Marlins’ lead to 7-4.
Early Inning Drama
New York had jumped ahead in the first inning when Ben Rice hit a three-run homer off opener Pete Fairbanks. However, after Fairbanks’ early struggles, the Marlins gradually worked their way back into the game.
Edwards hit an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Jakob Marsee scored in the sixth on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Caballero, trimming the deficit to 4-3.
Yankees’ Struggles
Max Fried, who had been dominant in his first two starts, gave up three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Fried struck out four but also walked three batters. Despite this, he still kept the Yankees in the game.
Fairbanks, who served as the opener, allowed three runs on three hits in the first inning before leaving the game to join his wife, who was expecting a child on Monday. The bullpen did its job, with Andrew Nardi, Chris Paddack, John King, Calvin Faucher, and Anthony Bender all contributing to the win.
Marlins’ Strong Bullpen Performance
Bender, who earned his first save of the season, closed out the game by striking out pinch hitter J.C. Escarra after allowing a two-run double to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the ninth.
Walks and Struggles for Both Teams
Throughout the series, both teams struggled with walks. The Marlins issued nine walks on Sunday and 30 walks over the three-game series.
