Marlins Dominate Blue Jays in Season Finale, 3-1

In a stunning Sunday showdown, Jonah Bride proved instrumental, reaching base thrice and driving in two critical runs, while Otto Lopez landed two hits and an RBI against his old squad. The Miami Marlins concluded their season on a high note, securing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 3-1 victory. Luis Urueta, the bench coach, expressed his satisfaction, remarking, “It’s a great moment, especially to end the season this way.”

Impressive Performance by Ryan Weathers

Ryan Weathers (5-6) displayed an exceptional performance, allowing just a single run and three hits in over six innings, securing his second consecutive win. Weathers displayed commendable control, granting two walks and striking out six. He brilliantly defused a threatening first inning with bases loaded and no outs and subsequently retired 16 straight hitters between the second and seventh innings. “It felt good,” said Weathers, “Any time you can excel against a quality lineup is rewarding.”

Marlins Secure Second Series Sweep

Anthony Bender, seizing the last four outs, bagged his first save in five attempts, marking the second series sweep for Miami. Toronto, on the other hand, endured a difficult period, losing eight of its final nine games and finishing 7-17 in September. Their home record concluded at 39-42.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., placed in the leadoff spot by Manager John Schneider in an attempt to boost his chances of reaching the 200-hits milestone, unfortunately, fell short by a single hit. Despite the setback, Guerrero maintained his composure, stating, “I’m not just going to strike out trying to get a hit knowing that I can get a walk.”

Toronto Ends the Season on a Sour Note

The Blue Jays season ended in disappointment, registering a 74-88 record, their poorest performance since 2019. “We’ve got to get better at everything,” Guerrero admitted. This marked a drastic decline from their 89-73 record last season, which earned them the third AL wild card.

Marlins Looking Forward Despite Setback

The Marlins, too, saw a major drop from 2023, when they finished 84-78 and clinched an NL wild-card spot. Despite their final record standing at 62-100, they ended on a positive note, winning five of their last six. “It’s a young group of players, and they have a bright future,” Urueta said. “They’ve just got to keep working.”

The game drew a crowd of 31,688, bringing the total attendance for the year to 2,681,236, down from 3,021,904 in 2023. Despite the absence of Skip Schumaker, Urueta confidently led his second game, placing Jake Burger at the top of his lineup. Bride, the star of the day, hit a two-run single off the Blue Jays’ opener, Ryan Burr, in the first. Bride ended September with an impressive .326 average, six home runs, and 17 RBIs in 26 games.

Looking Ahead

The Blue Jays will kick off the 2025 Grapefruit League schedule by hosting the New York Yankees on Feb. 22. Meanwhile, the Marlins will begin their 2025 Spring Training schedule by hosting St. Louis on the same day.