​MIAMI — The Miami Marlins beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Thursday to complete their second straight series sweep. The win moved the Marlins to 52-42 on the season, a remarkable turnaround from eight games under .500 and in last place in the National League East at the end of May. They now sit 10 games over .500 and tied for the second wild-card spot with the Philadelphia Phillies, while remaining three games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the division. Notably, among all American League teams, only the Tampa Bay Rays (54-37) have a better record than Miami.
The Marlins found themselves in an early deficit in the second inning when defensive misplays allowed Josh Naylor to reach base, steal third, and score, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead. Miami responded immediately in the bottom half, as Griffin Conine tied the game with a solo homer. Conine finished 3-for-4, missing only a cycle by one extra-base hit.
“I’ve never been a part of a team that is this hot,” Conine said to the Marlins Radio Network after the game. “The energy that we’re playing with right now is unbelievable.”
Miami then grabbed a 2-1 advantage on an RBI double by Liam Hicks, who plated Jakob Marsee after Marsee had reached on a single. Marsee went 2-for-3 on the day, his average now just a single point shy of .200 for the season.
The Marlins exploded for a four-run fourth inning to push the lead to 6-1. A fielder’s choice produced no outs and a run, and Otto Lopez followed with a two-RBI triple—his sixth of the season—bolstering the inning and the lead. Lopez, who has been named an NL All-Star, later commented on his performance and the team’s momentum.
“Running those bases, I’m thinking about all the good things that I’ve been doing, it’s amazing,” Lopez told Marlins.TV after the game. “I feel so excited for the team too. We’re doing pretty well.” Lopez’s hot stretch has helped him set a Marlins single-season record with 127 hits prior to the All-Star break.
Conine added to the scoring later in the inning with an RBI single from Kyle Stowers, who is currently slashing .310/.344/.724 with four home runs and eight RBIs over his last seven games.
The Mariners briefly answered in the fifth with a solo homer from Randy Arozarena, his 10th of the year, but it was the lone earned run allowed by Marlins starter Janson Junk in five innings of work. Junk, making his first appearance back from the injured list, gave up two runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
Seattle did not go quietly, getting two more runs in the seventh when Marlins reliever added some trouble, though the big blow for the Mariners came later. The Marlins added two more in the seventh when Marsee singled in Conine, and Leo Jimenez contributed a ground-out RBI, widening the cushion.
The eighth inning brought a late flourish from Seattle as Dominic Canzone connected on a two-run homer, his 15th of the season, but it proved far from enough to mount a serious rally.
Overall, the Marlins continued to showcase their improved offense and solid bullpen work, cementing their place atop a competitive National League landscape. The team’s resurgence since the end of May has been notable, with contributions from multiple players who have stepped up as the lineup has begun to click, complementing a strong pitching staff that has also found its stride.
In summary, Miami’s 8-4 win not only delivered a series sweep over Seattle but also reinforced the Marlins’ status as one of the hottest teams in baseball, a testament to their depth, resilience, and the continued development of several breakout performers as they push toward a playoff-contending finish.