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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays defeat Marlins 7-6 in extra innings
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Photo credit: © Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 23, 2025, 20:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 23, 2025, 20:27 EDT
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A win is a win at the end of the day.
On Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Miami Marlins 7-6, winning the series against the National League East team. Thanks to the win, the Blue Jays maintain their five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
In the top of the third, the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from George Springer. They extended the lead to 3-0, as Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI double, and Myles Straw walked with the bases loaded. In the top of the seventh, Springer hit his fourth home run of the season for a 4-0 lead.
Easy win, right? Nope. After cruising through six, José Berríos started to struggle. Berríos got the first Marlin to ground out, but three consecutive singles put the Marlins on the board, and Berríos was pulled. Enter Louis Varland, who gave up a double to the first batter he faced, which drove in one run and nearly two, but Troy Johnston was thrown out at home. Former Blue Jay Otto López hit an RBI single to get within one later in the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 game, Jeff Hoffman toed the rubber, giving up a lead-off walk. A stolen base and RBI single from Javier Sanoja tied the game at four, setting up extra innings.
The Blue Jays took a 5-4 lead with a sacrifice fly, but the Marlins matched it to send it to the 11th. Once again, the Jays took a lead, this time thanks to an Andrés Giménez single, but once again, the Marlins tied it. In the 12th, Bo Bichette hit an RBI single to make it 7-6, and this time the Jays were able to hold on for the victory.

Takeaways…

Bo Bichette had a terrific game. On top of hitting the game-winning RBI, he made a terrific play in the bottom of the 12th to get the lead-off runner and had a four-hit game. The Blue Jays are missing Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but Bichette stepped up in a big way on Saturday.
There was another web gem in extra innings for the Jays, as Addison Barger made a game-saving catch in the bottom of the tenth. Had this ball dropped, the Jays would have lost, simple as that. Nice catch for the outfielder/third baseman.
Springer also quietly had a terrific game, going 3-6 with two RBIs, including hitting his team-leading 22nd home run of the season. His bat brings the Blue Jays’ lineup to a different level. Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, and Andrés Giménez also had hits in this game.
Saturday was a nice bounce-back game for Berríos. Through six, he hadn’t given up a run and struck out eight, allowing just one hit in the game. He ran into a bit of trouble before he was pulled, but he finished with a solid line of 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K. He needs to pitch like this more often.
Louis Varland’s struggles continued, as he allowed an inherited runner to score, while a run of his own scored. Seranthony Domínguez pitched a clean inning with two strikeouts, and Jeff Hoffman blew his sixth save of the season after a lead-off walk.  Both Mason Fluharty and Tommy Nance didn’t give up an earned run in their outing, but Fluharty was tagged with a blown save, and Nance picked up the win.
Getting the save was Brendon Little, who pitched a clean inning. The Jays didn’t want to use him, as he threw nine pitches in Friday’s victory. It’s safe to say that the Jays’ bullpen is in a rough spot. The only reliever who didn’t pitch on Saturday was Yariel Rodríguez (and Eric Lauer). Hoffman, Little, and Fluharty will all likely be out of action tomorrow as they pitch on both Friday and Saturday.
The Jays have a chance to sweep their 10th series of the season, as Sunday’s game starts at 1:40 PM ET, with Kevin Gausman taking the ball.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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