The Miami Marlins erased a one-run deficit and beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at loanDepot Park. Heriberto Hernández homered, Griffin Conine added a solo shot, and Jared Serna drove in two runs to fuel the comeback win over a division rival. Michael Petersen earned the victory out of the bullpen, and Sandy Alcantara locked it down in the ninth with a save, giving Miami a clean result in nine innings against an NL East opponent.

Marlins Offense Does Enough Damage Against JR Ritchie

Atlanta starter JR Ritchie gave Miami plenty to work with, allowing four earned runs on seven hits across 5.2 innings, walking two and striking out just two. The Marlins made him pay early and often, stringing together hits and putting crooked numbers on the board before Ritchie was pulled.

The offensive standouts from the Miami side:

  • Heriberto Hernández — 2-for-4, one home run, one RBI
  • Jared Serna — 2-for-2, two RBI
  • Griffin Conine — 1-for-4, one home run, one RBI

Serna's efficiency at the plate stood out. Two hits in two at-bats, both producing runs — that's the kind of at-bat quality that wins division games. Hernández provided the extra-base pop Miami needed, and Conine's home run added an insurance run that proved necessary when the bullpen briefly wobbled.

Pitching Staff Gets the Job Done in Pieces

Janson Junk started and delivered 4.2 innings of one-run ball, scattering three hits, walking one, and punching out five. That's a solid enough outing to keep Miami in the game, and Junk did his job limiting Atlanta's damage through the middle innings.

The bullpen picture was mixed but ultimately successful. Calvin Faucher ran into trouble in his inning of work, giving up two earned runs on two hits with a walk — that's where Atlanta got back into the game. But Michael Petersen bridged the gap cleanly with 1.1 scoreless innings, and Josh Ekness followed with a perfect frame, striking out one.

Then came Sandy Alcantara in the ninth. One inning, one strikeout, no hits, no walks, and no drama. Save secured. Whatever role Alcantara is filling for this club right now, Sunday's ninth inning was exactly what Miami needed from him.

Turning Point: Miami Answers Atlanta's Surge

The Braves had life when Faucher coughed up two runs to trim the Miami lead. Mauricio Dubón was the catalyst for Atlanta, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI — he gave the Braves a pulse every time he came to the plate. Sean Murphy was also productive with two hits in four at-bats, though he did not drive in a run.

But Miami's answer was Petersen and Ekness holding the line and preserving what the offense had built. The Marlins did not let Dubón's damage become a turning point in Atlanta's favor. The lead held, and Alcantara finished it.

What's Next for Miami

The Marlins take a 5-3 win over a division opponent into whatever comes next on the schedule. Conine and Hernández both went deep, Serna was automatic at the plate, and the pitching staff — working five arms deep — got the final out when it mattered. That's a winning formula on any Sunday in September.