MIAMI — Agustín Ramírez collected two hits, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández went deep, and right-hander Janson Junk turned in a quality start as the Miami Marlins rolled to their fourth consecutive victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, pulling within 1 1/2 games of the Diamondbacks and Phillies for the final National League Wild Card spot with 41 games remaining.
Miami (62-59) got production up and down a retooled lineup that has been reshaped by recent roster moves. Ramírez, who slugged 21 homers during his rookie season in 2025 before a months-long demotion, returned to the lineup and ripped a 110.6 mph RBI double in the third inning that chased Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski. “It’ll be big,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “We still certainly believe in Agustín — he’s a good player. He smoked the ball in the No. 5, No. 6 hole, the double down the third-base line. He’s another one who swings fast and hits the ball hard. We’ve seen him do things like tonight. He’s certainly very capable, and I think right now, we just need contributions from as many places as we can get it. And when guys get chances to go in there and pass the baton to the next guy, that is going to need to come from all over the lineup.”
Ramírez, who had been 3-for-9 with two walks and four strikeouts since his return, singled at 107.8 mph in the second inning before his run-scoring double an inning later. The Marlins then scored three additional runs in the third when lefty reliever Evan Sisk walked Javier Sanoja to load the bases, hit Leo Jiménez with a pitch, walked Joe Mack and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Xavier Edwards. “I am here for the opportunity that they give me, and for whatever the team wants to do with me,” Ramírez said in Spanish. “It felt good. I am super happy. That is what I want to do and be able to stay here no matter what. That is what I want to achieve and contribute to the team in whatever way [I can].”
Conine, who has taken over regular playing time at first base, launched a solo homer off former teammate Lake Bachar in the fourth to push the lead to 6-2. Entering the game, Conine’s 34.3 HR/FB% rate with a minimum of 140 plate appearances was the best in the Majors, and his pace of one home run every 11.69 at-bats would also lead MLB among qualifiers — ahead of Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, who goes deep once every 12.18 at-bats in 414 at-bats. “It was nice,” said Conine, who reached base a career-high-tying five times. “You try to scale it, and you never know here. But even yesterday, I felt really good about my at-bats. The results weren’t fully there. Anytime you’re hitting the ball hard in the air as a hitter, you’re in a good spot, and [I’m] not swinging out of the zone a lot right now. Didn’t want to change a thing and just hopefully they fall a little more. And today they did.”
Hernández added his team-leading 17th homer of the season, a two-run blast in the sixth at 108.1 mph — one of the six hardest-hit balls of the game, all by Miami. “You look up and down, and Gus certainly hits the ball hard, and Griff and Bert, Joe Mack, Owen,” McCullough said. “We do have a number of guys that have that type of capability, and it really just boils down to their willingness to be really stubborn with what they’re going to go fire at and take their chances on those offerings.”
The Marlins continue their series against Pittsburgh at loanDepot park, looking to extend the winning streak to five games and continue closing ground in the Wild Card race.