Marlins light up Zack Wheeler, stage dramatic walk-off vs. Jhoan Duran to snap MLB-worst 12-game losing streak

The reeling Miami Marlins snapped a 12-game losing streak in the unlikeliest fashion Monday night.

They blew a lead after lighting up one of baseball’s best starters, then staged a walk-off comeback against an All-Star closer for a dramatic 8-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The win was Miami’s first since the All-Star break and avoided breaking a tie with the New York Mets to stand alone with the worst losing streak of the MLB season.

Griffin Conine was the co-star of the comeback with a walk-off single to cap a three-run Marlins bottom of the ninth against Jhoan Duran.

Heriberto Hernández set the stage two batters earlier with a two-run single with the bases loaded to tie the game.

Both players hit home runs early off of Zack Wheeler as the Marlins torched the standout starter for five runs and chased him after three innings.

Hernández hit a solo home run in the first inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Conine followed up with another solo shot of Wheeler to start the second inning, and the Marlins left the frame with a 5-2 lead.

A three-time All-Star, Wheeler entered Monday with a 2.16 ERA, having allowed a total of three runs over his previous three starts. Against Miami Monday night, he allowed five earned runs on six hits, one walk and two home runs in three innings.

But it wasn’t enough to get the job done for Miami. The Phillies’ bullpen held Miami scoreless for five innings following Wheeler’s exit, and their bats exploded for four runs in the sixth. They went into the bottom of the ninth with a 7-5 lead and an All-Star on the mound in Duran. Duran entered Monday with a 1.29 ERA, having blown just one save all season. He hadn’t allowed a run since June 9th.

But the Marlins put immediate pressure on Duran with singles by Jakob Marsee and Otto Lopez to lead off the inning. A hit-by-pitch of Kyle Stowers loaded the bases with no outs, setting up Hernández and Conine for their late-game heroics.

When it was done, jubilation spilled over from the Miami dugout for an on-field celebration for what Miami hopes is the catalyst to get a once-promising season back on track.