The Miami Marlins just hit a new low, and it’s one the franchise has managed to avoid for 34 years. Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the San Diego Padres marked the 12th straight defeat for Miami, which is the longest losing streak in team history. A franchise that has never been to the World Series and has only made the playoffs four times had never lost 12 in a row. Until now.
What makes this one sting a little more is that the Marlins were actually winning this game. For a while, anyway.
Liam Hicks got things started by taking advantage of a throwing error at second base. Graham Pauley followed with a single to right that brought Griffin Conine home. Then Kyle Stowers crushed a changeup 409 feet for the only Marlins homer of the night. Miami had a three-run lead and looked like they might actually snap the skid.
Then Manny Machado happened.
Machado doubled in the fifth inning to score Jake Cronenworth, cutting the lead to 3-1. Later in the same game, Machado sent a 399-foot home run over the wall that also brought Cronenworth home, tying the game at 3-3. It was the kind of performance you expect from a veteran star playing in his hometown of San Diego. Jackson Merrill followed with a solo homer to right field, and Luis Campusano added an RBI single to left. Just like that, the lead was gone and the losing streak was a piece of franchise history nobody wanted.
Where Do the Marlins Go From Here?
The Marlins are in a weird spot. They’re bad enough to lose 12 straight, but they’re also positioned to be sellers at the trade deadline. According to reports, pitcher Jose Soriano is one name to watch as the July 30 deadline approaches. Soriano has struggled lately, which might actually make him more available — teams love buying low on guys with his kind of raw stuff. The Marlins haven’t confirmed anything yet, but the rumor mill is already spinning.
For a team that entered the season hoping to compete for a Wild Card spot, this losing streak has been a reality check. Miami now sits at the bottom of the NL East with a record that looks more like a rebuilding squad than a contender. The pitching has been inconsistent, the offense can’t string together hits, and the losses just keep piling up.
Sunday’s loss was the 12th in a row. The next one would be No. 13. And the Marlins don’t have an easy fix waiting in the wings.
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