PHILADELPHIA — After struggling to cash in all night against their nemesis, Cristopher Sánchez, the Marlins finally put together a potential game-tying rally in the seventh inning Monday, only for a replay review to cost them a run and potentially a win.
Trailing by three runs in the top of the seventh, Miami loaded the bases on singles by Xavier Edwards and Agustín Ramírez, followed by an Otto Lopez walk. On an 0-2 count from Phillies reliever Jonathan Bowlan, Javier Sanoja laced a ball down the first-base line. First-base umpire Shane Livensparger called it foul, but upon replay review, the ball clearly hit the line and was fair for a double. The ruling was overturned, but only two runs scored, with Livensparger sending Lopez back to third base and Sanoja to second.
With two outs and Lopez running on contact, the play easily could have been a bases-clearing double. Unhappy with the outcome after intervention from MLB’s Replay Center, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough was ejected and the inning ended one batter later as Bowlan struck out Leo Jiménez.
"It was frustrating to see a situation like that," Sanoja said. "As division rivals, we understand the value of this game and just seeing the game [affected] by a situation like that is truly disappointing.”
The Phillies added runs in the seventh and eighth, and the Marlins answered both times before leaving the tying run on base in the top of the ninth of a 6-5 loss.
"Once they [called] out there, I can't go argue a play that went to New York," McCullough said after the game. "My only point was that I get it, but with two outs, with the size of the lead Otto's going to have there not being held on and going on contact, where that ball was going to end up, I think that he was going to score anyway. Just a little bit more frustration that you see the call's going to get overturned and think what could have been. But again, I think back more to the chances we had, a run or two that we maybe gave them."
After scoring just two runs in 36 innings against Sánchez in five meetings dating back to 2023, the Marlins did a much better job against him Monday night with eight hits and three walks. They had two baserunners apiece in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. All but one of them were stranded or retired on the basepaths.
"I did like that we stressed him and made him work," McCullough said. "Had some chances and just couldn't come through with a big blow there on a couple of occasions to flip that game in the early going."
Sanoja was annoyed postgame, both over the ruling and the timing in such an important game. The Marlins began the week three games behind the Phillies for the final National League Wild Card spot and knew they could tie them with a sweep or see their deficit double if the result was flipped.
"I saw it right away that it was a fair ball,” Sanoja said. “That's why I was so surprised by the call. It landed right away in fair territory. All of my teammates were surprised."
Lopez was more understanding, but felt certain he would have scored.
"I was sure that I was going to score easy because of where the ball was hit," he said. "I know umpires have the hardest job in the world. I know that decision is tough. We just got unlucky."
Even Phillies manager Don Mattingly was relieved Lopez was sent back to third.
"You know, it's tough to just give them the third run when you don't see the play," he said. "But their guy does run good — Lopez runs good. But it's hard to assume that he's going to score from there and give them the third run. I wouldn't have been shocked if they gave it to them, but I'm glad they didn't."
Now, the Marlins try to bounce back Tuesday against another of baseball's top starting pitchers, two-time NL Cy Young runner-up Zack Wheeler. Lefty Cade Gibson will start for Miami and is expected to be followed by right-hander Tyler Phillips.
Miami was helped in the Wild Card race Monday night by losses from the Padres and Diamondbacks. They'll wake up Tuesday three games behind San Diego for the final NL playoff spot.
"Every series, we take seriously," Lopez said. "This one is big for us, of course, but we just have to continue to play hard. We played hard in Cincinnati and came in here with the same energy like we do every single game."