The Miami Marlins gutted out an 8-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in 12 innings on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Wrigley Field. Miami's offense exploded late, turning a tight extra-inning contest into a six-run blowout and handing Chicago a lopsided loss that went well past the regulation frame. Kyle Stowers led the way with a home run and two RBI, while Joe Mack and Javier Sanoja each contributed multi-hit performances of their own. The Marlins used nine pitchers to get the job done, with Josh Ekness earning the win out of the bullpen.

Marlins Offense Breaks Through Late in Extra Innings

Miami's attack spread the damage across multiple contributors. Stowers went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, providing the Marlins with their most impactful individual line of the night. Catcher Joe Mack was equally productive in limited at-bats, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Shortstop Javier Sanoja added two hits and an RBI in five at-bats, giving the Marlins three multi-hit performers who kept Chicago's pitching staff under consistent pressure throughout the extended game.

The Cubs got two hits apiece from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, but neither man drove in a run, and Chicago's lineup ultimately came up empty when it counted. The home side scored just twice across 12 innings, never seriously threatening to reclaim the game once Miami took control.

Janson Junk Sets the Tone, Bullpen Finishes the Job

Marlins starter Janson Junk was sharp through five innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out six and not giving up a single earned run. Junk gave Miami exactly what it needed — length, efficiency, and a clean slate heading into the bullpen.

The relief corps was a mixed bag. Cade Gibson was touched for a run without recording an out, and the game remained close long enough to require multiple arms. Eury Pérez provided the most dominant relief appearance of the night, striking out all three batters he faced across a perfect inning. Victor Vodnik and Josh Ekness each punched out two batters in their respective frames, with Ekness getting the win after tossing a scoreless inning in which he allowed one walk and struck out two.

On the Cubs side, Shota Imanaga kept Miami at bay through five innings, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run on four hits. But the Chicago bullpen faltered under the extended pressure. Caleb Thielbar surrendered two runs in the 11th, and Edward Cabrera allowed three more runs on two hits and two walks while recording just two outs in the 12th. Thielbar was tagged with the loss.

Turning Point: Cubs Bullpen Cracks in the 11th and 12th

The game's decisive sequence came in the final two innings. After both teams played through a tense regulation and into extra innings, the Cubs bullpen gave way. Thielbar's two-run 11th opened the door, and Cabrera could not close it — the right-hander was charged with three earned runs in 0.2 innings as Miami sent multiple runners across the plate and turned a competitive extra-inning game into a comfortable final margin. That six-run cushion tells the full story: the Marlins didn't just survive extra innings, they dominated them once the Cubs' relief options ran thin.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Kyle Stowers: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Joe Mack: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
  • Javier Sanoja: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
  • Janson Junk: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
  • Eury Pérez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K
  • Josh Ekness (W): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

What's Next for the Marlins

Miami takes the result on the road and will continue its series with Chicago. With the 2026 regular season in its final weeks, every game carries added weight, and Tuesday's extra-inning win showed the Marlins have the depth across their roster — both at the plate and in the bullpen — to grind through a difficult night on the road and come out on top.