David Festa surrendered three first-inning runs, and Matt Wallner accounted for the Twins’ only run as the Miami Marlins beat Minnesota, 4-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series Thursday.

Agustín Ramírez hit a two-run home run, Xavier Edwards singled twice and Eury Pérez (1-2) struck out a season-high seven and walked one in six innings of one-hit ball for his first win since June 25, 2023.

The Marlins have won 10 of their past 12 games, a stretch that includes an eight-game winning streak, to the Atlanta Braves for third in the National League East.

The Twins are 1-4 since they had a three-game win streak snapped last weekend at Detroit and have scored a combined three runs in their past four games.

“Obviously, we have to get it together offensively. No secret,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters at LoanDepot Park. “They’re working, going out there with an idea of what they want to do, and trying to keep it as simple as possible.”

Ramírez connected on a 1-2 fastball from Twins starter Festa (2-3) and launched it 425 feet to left-center during a three-run first that put Minnesota in an immediate hole.

Festa, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters, “sharpened up after that and pitched significantly better as the outing went on.”

And being three runs down, Baldelli said, “shouldn’t be a deficit we can’t overcome.”

Festa allowed five hits and four runs with seven strikeouts in six innings, but the lineup was no match for Pérez, who gave up just one hit in six innings and threw only 80 pitches.

Wallner’s two-out homer against Gibson made it 4-1 in the seventh. Anthony Bender then gave up consecutive singles before getting pinch-hitter Ryan Jeffers to ground out to end the inning.

“We’ve overcome deficits like that, gotten better as the game’s gone on, (made) the games closer,” Baldelli said. “Couldn’t do it today.”

Ramírez leads all major league rookies with 13 home runs, and the homer extended his lead among rookies in extra-base hits to 29 (15 doubles, one triple, and 13 home runs).

The Twins went 2-4 in their six-game road trip, also losing a series at Detroit.

Edwards hit leadoff singles in the first and third innings and stole his team-leading 15th base. Kyle Stowers went 0 for 3, ending his nine-game hitting streak. Ronny Henriquez earned his fifth save.

Up next

The Twins begin a three-game home series against Tampa Bay with a July 4 afternoon start Friday at Target Field. right-hander Chris Paddack (3-7, 4.70 earned-run average) is scheduled to start for Minnesota.