Jesús Sánchez and the Marlins: A Story of Resilience and Redemption
The week began on a somber note for Sánchez, who found himself benched during the Marlins’ seventh consecutive loss. Alone in the dugout, he could only watch as his team struggled on the field. But baseball, like life, is unpredictable, and fortunes can change in the blink of an eye.
Just three days later, Sánchez found himself at the center of a jubilant celebration, his arms raised in triumph as his teammates rushed to embrace him. His walk-off hit in the 10th inning secured a 5-4 victory for the Marlins over the Colorado Rockies, marking the first time since 2022 that Miami had won multiple games in walk-off fashion in the same series.
“This is something,” Sánchez said in a post-game interview. “It can show you how life is, how baseball is. And you know there’s ups and downs, but you’ve got to just keep moving forward and work hard, do your things, and then good things will come.”
Sánchez’s game-winning hit came in a high-pressure situation, with a runner at second and one out in the 10th inning. Despite his career average of .196 against lefties, Sánchez was determined to stick with his game plan of sending the pitcher’s fastball to the opposite field. He did just that, lining a 2-2 four-seamer to left past a diving Jordan Beck.
“For him to walk off, I know that’s a tough night the other night, but credit to him,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s moved on, and I think he’s grown from it already. I told him I still love him and [that it] doesn’t mean I’m not going to play him anymore. His teammates also built him up after that. There were a lot of good conversations, and I’m super happy for him.”
But Sánchez’s heroics wouldn’t have been possible without another stellar performance by Miami’s bullpen. Once a strength in 2023, the bullpen hasn’t fared as well in ‘24. However, during the three-game series against the Rockies, the relief corps didn’t allow an earned run over 15 innings. In Thursday’s finale, just one inherited run scored, on a fifth-inning double play.
With several arms unavailable during this stretch of 13 straight days with a game, the bullpen was running on fumes. The last thing Schumaker needed was for this game to go even deeper. So, for the second straight game, rookie righty Anthony Maldonado was handed the ninth inning. After recording his first career save on Wednesday, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the score knotted at 4.
Maldonado, ranked as Miami’s No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has opened his Major League career with six scoreless innings across four outings. He is making a case to stick in The Show because of his wipeout slider and demeanor.
Right-hander Burch Smith, who was acquired in a trade with the Rays prior to Opening Day, then tossed a scoreless 10th. After fielding a sacrifice bunt that advanced the automatic runner, he struck out Ryan McMahon and Elehuris Montero with the infield drawn in.
“It’s an ideal outcome,” said Smith, who entered with a 14.3 percent K rate. “I try to not go for a strikeout until I get to two strikes. A lot of times, I’ll find myself trying to go for the strikeout and it never happens. So just trying to make good pitches and if I find myself in an 0-2, 1-2 count, maybe go for it. But I really just execute each pitch one pitch at a time.
“Just a lot of confidence. I think [bullpen coach Wellington Cepeda] has been great with the reports and we are able to lean on him. Really just watching everybody go out and compete, and just making good pitches. We’ve got a nice little stretch going here, and I hope we can keep it going.”
The story of Sánchez and the Marlins is a reminder of the unpredictability of baseball, and the resilience required to navigate its ups and downs. From the disappointment of a losing streak to the joy of a walk-off victory, their journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work, and team spirit. As they look ahead to the rest of the season, they do so with renewed confidence and determination, ready to face whatever challenges come their way.