KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kyle Stowers homered and added an RBI single, while Heriberto Hernández drove in two runs to propel the Miami Marlins to a 9-6 comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Stowers got the Marlins on the board early with a first-inning RBI single, helping Miami build a quick 2-0 lead. However, the Royals responded forcefully in the bottom half of the frame, batting around to post five runs. Carter Jensen ignited the rally with a franchise-record leadoff home run, followed by RBI doubles from Jac Caglianone and Michael Massey, and an 18th home run of the season from Salvador Perez.
Unfazed by the early deficit, the Marlins chipped away. Stowers launched his 18th home run of the season in the third inning to start the rally. Hernández then took control in the middle innings, doubling in the fifth before smashing another double off the center-field wall in the sixth. His second double capped a three-run sixth inning that put Miami ahead 7-6.
Miami’s comeback was bolstered by contributions across the lineup and key moments off the bench. Griffin Conine—with his father, former Marlin and Royal Jeff Conine, watching from the stands—delivered a game-tying pinch-hit single in the sixth and later robbed the Royals with a run-saving catch against the right-field wall. Jared Serna, making his first major league start, recorded his first career hit and drove in a run with a tying sacrifice fly.
To seal the win, Javier Sanoja and Jakob Marsee hit back-to-back solo home runs in the ninth inning to provide insurance.
Hernández’s big night extended his on-base streak to 19 games—the longest by a Marlin this season and the second-longest active streak in the Majors. Otto Lopez also kept his hot streak alive, expanding his hitting streak to nine games and on-base streak to 16 with a first-inning RBI triple.
After starter Eury Pérez surrendered six runs on nine hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings, Miami’s bullpen stepped up. Relief pitcher Cade Gibson (3-1) earned the win after striking out the only batter he faced to squander a fifth-inning threat, leading a corps of five relievers who shut down the Royals over the final 4 1/3 innings. Calvin Faucher pitched a scoreless ninth to secure his third save of the year.
For Kansas City, Jensen added a second solo blast in the fourth—his 21st of the year—to complement his record-setting leadoff shot. Starting pitcher Noah Cameron allowed four runs on five hits while striking out seven over five innings. Reliever Jose Cuas (0-1) took the loss after allowing all three batters he faced in the sixth to reach base and eventually score.
UP NEXT
The teams complete their series on Thursday. Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (13-8, 3.46 ERA) takes the mound against Royals right-hander Michael Wacha (8-8, 3.32 ERA) in the finale.
