​In Sacramento, California, on a sunny Sunday, the Athletics wrapped up their homestand with the series finale against the Miami Marlins. The Marlins completed the sweep by rallying to a 9-8 victory, fending off a furious A’s comeback after Miami pulled its starting pitcher, who was just six outs shy of a perfect game.
The Marlins jumped ahead early, scoring in the first inning for the second time in the series. With one out, left fielder Heriberto Hernández belted his tenth homer of the season, a solo shot to center off A’s starter Gage Jump. The Marlins added two more hits, but Jump worked out of the jam, stranding runners at second and third.
Miami extended its lead in the second. After two straight singles, shortstop Otto López lined a ground-rule double over the head of A’s left fielder Carlos Cortes, bringing home Jakob Marsee for the visitors’ second run. First baseman Liam Hicks drove in Miami’s third run with a sacrifice fly off Jump.
The A’s pitching unravelled in the third as Marlins designated hitter Leo Jiménez connected for his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to left-center that boosted the lead to 5-0. After hitting a batter, Jump allowed Brian Navarreto’s double before López added a sacrifice fly to push the score to 6-0.
Jump’s afternoon ended after three grueling innings, during which he yielded six runs on eight hits, walked three, and struck out just one. The rookie-looking start suggested he may be hitting a wall, and his response will be important for his season. Right-hander Mason Barnett came on in the fourth and fared better, delivering two scoreless innings. The A’s left him in the game an inning too long, as López and Hernández opened the sixth with back-to-back homers to extend Miami’s lead to 8-0, setting a franchise record for home runs in a series. Hernández hit his second homer of the game, and the A’s eventually removed him, bringing in fellow right-hander Justin Sterner. Sterner didn’t surrender any more runs, aided by a relay throw that cut down a Marlins runner at the plate. Hogan Harris and Luis Medina followed with scoreless frames, with Medina escaping a bases-loaded jam.
Meanwhile, Marlins starter Eury Pérez needed only 92 pitches to complete seven perfect innings, fanning eight while keeping the A’s offense off balance all night. The A’s offense, already hampered by injuries and a hitter-friendly home park, continued to struggle as their pitching staff conceded runs in the late innings, allowing Miami to hold on for the 9-8 win.