MIAMI, FL – It was crunch time for the Miami Marlins in their first homestand of September, entering today’s game against the Chicago Cubs just 3.0 games behind the last Wild Card spot. With time ticking in their fight for a playoff spot, the Marlins fell completely flat in a 5-0 loss to the Cubs.
Earned Runs Haunt the Fish
Janson Junk pitched a gem, allowing just three hits and a run on four strikeouts across five innings. He threw 50 of his 75 pitches for strikes. He used his sweeper and curveball most during the first time through the order, and his slider and changeup during the second.
The night is over for Janson Junk, his stat line:
5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 75 NP (50 Strikes) #Marlins pic.twitter.com/qElzlM4TeF— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) September 5, 2026
His start marked his fourth consecutive one allowing one run or less, and it was his most strikeouts in an outing since July 31 against the Mets. Junk has gradually lowered his ERA in most of his starts since July 20, when it was at a season high of 5.09, to now being a flat 4.00.
After Junk came Jack Ralston, and his bullpen appearance was a nightmare. He recorded a single out and threw two strikes out of 17 pitches. Ralston walked NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, and Alex Bregman, loading the bases. Josh Ekness then entered the game to try to ease tensions.
Top 6th
Cubs 3 | Marlins 0Nico Hoerner singles into left field, giving the Cubs some added momentum pic.twitter.com/Pw10WR7vD2
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) September 5, 2026
The Cubs unleashed in the sixth inning with three runs. Ian Happ walked with the bases loaded, Nico Hoerner hit an RBI single, and Pedro Ramirez hit a sac fly to make it 4-0.
Chicago scored another run in the seventh. Crow-Armstrong doubled to right field and then scored after Bradley Blalock threw a wild pitch, making it 5-0.
Busch homered off of Blalock in the ninth inning, sending a ball 427 feet into the upper deck. Blalock pitched the final three innings, allowing four hits, two runs, and a walk on three punchouts.
Top 9th
Cubs 6 | Marlins 1Michael Busch hits a solo homer, his 18th homer of the season in front of a large traveling audience of Cubs fans pic.twitter.com/Ue833C6GXA
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) September 5, 2026
Inconsistent Hitting is Back
In the seventh inning, the Marlins started to make things interesting. Griffin Conine singled, and then Javier Sanoja hit a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third with nobody out.
Bot 7th
Cubs 5 | Marlins 1Esteury Ruiz RBI groundout #Marlins pic.twitter.com/48G4kPmkSm
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) September 5, 2026
After Agustin Ramirez lined out, Esteury Ruiz hit an RBI groundout to put Miami on the board, scoring Conine. Following back-to-back walks to Jakob Marsee and Owen Caissie, the bases were loaded. Joe Mack unfortunately failed to seize the opportunity and struck out.
In reality, Miami’s hitting had no life in this game. They finished the game with four hits, going 0/3 with runners in scoring position. Conine had half of those hits.
For the Marlins, it has unfortunately been a continued pattern of inconsistent hitting all season long. Sometimes it’s hot and other times it’s not. Tonight, just happened to be another one of those. Miami drops back to .500 with an even 71-71 record, needing to get on a winning streak fast or else their Wild Card hopes will dwindle away as September goes on.
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