Marlins Slam the Door on Rangers
The Miami Marlins didn’t just beat the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. They walked into Globe Life Field and ripped away what little hope Texas still had left in the playoff chase.
With back-to-back home runs from Troy Johnston and Connor Norby in the sixth inning, Miami pulled ahead and never looked back, holding off a late Rangers rally to secure a 4-3 win and their fifth consecutive victory.
For the Marlins, it was another statement in a September surge that’s seen them win nine of their last ten games. For the Rangers, it was another crushing blow in a free fall that has all but erased their postseason chances.
A Tale of Two Teams Headed in Opposite Directions
Johnston cracked a solo shot to right field to break a tie, and Norby followed on the very next pitch with a blast of his own. In the span of a minute, Texas went from knotted up to down two runs, and the momentum belonged firmly to Miami.
It was the kind of swing — literally and figuratively — that defines the final weeks of a season. One team is playing loose, confident, and dangerous. The other is pressing, frustrated, and running out of time.
The Marlins’ dugout erupted as Johnston crossed the plate and Norby followed. It was their signature moment of the night, the kind of jolt a young team rides when the season is winding down but pride is on the line.
Miami’s Bullpen Passes the Test
The Marlins didn’t need a dominant outing from one starter. Instead, they leaned on depth.
Cade Gibson (4-5), in relief of Adam Mazur, threw two spotless innings to earn the win. Managerial trust then shifted from one reliever to the next until it reached closer Calvin Faucher, who had to navigate a heart-thumping ninth.
Kyle Higashioka launched a solo homer to slice the lead to one. Josh Jung followed with a single. Then Michael Helman drew a walk. The tension inside Globe Life Field rose — the Rangers had the tying run in scoring position, their fans on their feet, and their season hanging by a thread.
But Faucher didn’t break. He forced Joc Pederson into a routine flyout, slamming the door and recording his 15th save of the season.
Rangers Stuck in the Spiral
It’s been a brutal stretch in Arlington. The defending champions, who only a year ago celebrated on this same field, now look like a team out of gas.
Jack Leiter (9-10), still finding his footing in his rookie campaign, battled but gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. His offense gave him a brief 2-1 lead in the third when Alejandro Osuna and Rowdy Tellez delivered run-scoring hits, but it wasn’t enough.
The Rangers have now lost six straight games. With seven games left, they sit 5 1/2 games behind the Astros and four behind the Guardians for the final AL Wild Card. On paper, they aren’t eliminated. In reality, Saturday’s loss felt like a knockout punch.
Miami’s Late-Season Surge
At 75-80, the Marlins won’t be playing in October. But they’re proving something just as important: that their core is for real.
Winning streaks like this don’t happen by accident. The lineup is producing in key moments. The bullpen is bending but not breaking. And the clubhouse energy is rising with every victory.
For a franchise often overlooked in the National League, these final weeks matter. They build confidence. They build identity. And for young players like Johnston and Norby, nights like Saturday mark the start of something bigger than the standings.
What’s Next
The Marlins will look to complete the sweep in Sunday’s series finale, while the Rangers desperately search for a way to stop the bleeding. For Texas, the math says there’s still a chance. The body language on the field says otherwise.
