Blue Jays’ Incredible Extra-Innings Win over Marlins Sets Modern MLB Record

The Toronto Blue Jays pulled off another magical victory against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) celebrates in the dugout with teammates after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the 12th inning at loanDepot Park. | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The box score will say that the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Miami Marlins, 7-6, on Saturday night in 12 innings. But one must look deeper to determine the significance of the victory for Toronto.

On the road in Miami, Toronto took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. But the Blue Jays were unable to close the deal, and the Marlins tied the game, sending the contest into extra innings.

What followed next was a three-inning battle for the Blue Jays to claim their 76th victory of the season, and along the way did something no Major League team had ever done before.

Toronto’s MLB Comeback Milestone

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

According to OptaStats on X (formerly Twitter), with Saturday's victory, the Blue Jays became the only Major League team in the modern era, since 1901, to blow a lead in the ninth, the 10th and the 11th innings and still win the game.

The Marlins tied the game with an RBI single by Javier Sanoja, which scored Derek Hill to make it a 4-4 game. That sent the game into the 10th inning, when each gets a ghost runner at second base to start the inning.

In the 10th, the Blue Jays scored Bo Bichette on Ty France’s sacrifice fly to take a 5-4 lead. But the remainder of the order stranded Tyler Heineman at third base, who got on base earlier in the inning. Toronto couldn’t hold the lead. The Marlins’ Jakob Marsee doubled, scoring Otto Lopez to tie the game back up at 5-5.

In the 11th, Toronto took the lead again. This time, an Andres Gimenez single brought home Myles Straw, giving the Blue Jays a 6-5 lead. But, like Heineman, Gimenez was left stranded on base. Miami answered again, and it was Sanoja that did the honors again. His RBI single scored Hill to the game once again, this time at 6-6.

Toronto gave it another try in the 12th inning. This time, Bichette singled home George Springer to make it a 7-6 game. Finally, the Blue Jays bullpen held the lead. Brandon Little came in to work the inning. Miami’s Xavier Edwards grounded to Bichette and into a fielder’s choice for the first out. He caught Miami ghost runner Otto Lopez too far off second base and threw to Gimenez for the tag out.

After that, the Marlins’ Marsee lined out and Agustin Ramirez grounded out to Bichette to end the game. The Blue Jays and the Marlins wrap up the series on Sunday in Miami.