MIAMI — Starving for any kind of momentum, the Yankees snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Sunday.
Three outs away from their first series victory over a team with a winning record since late June, the Yankees threw it all away in the bottom of the ninth inning after entering the frame with a four-run lead.
The Marlins rallied to tie it against Clay Holmes and then won it against Tommy Kahnle, handing the Yankees an absolute gut-punch of an 8-7 loss at a sold-out loanDepot Park.
Jake Burger delivered the final blow, lining a single to left field over a five-man infield to walk it off for the Marlins.
All five of the runs that the Marlins scored in the ninth inning were charged to Holmes.
The Yankees closer had entered Sunday having given up just three runs over his last 35 games (34 ²/₃ innings).
But the inning got off to an inauspicious start when Yuli Gurriel led off with a double.
Holmes then got the first and only out of the inning on a strikeout before allowing an infield single and a walk to load the bases.
Josh Bell then hit a comebacker to the mound — a potential game-ending double-play ball — that Holmes bobbled, then threw wildly to first to score a pair of runs.
Luis Arraez came up next and roped a triple down the first-base line, tying the game at seven.
Kahnle entered from the bullpen and walked a batter before Burger ended it with a single.
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