MIAMI — It was a fight to the finish Friday as the Miami Marlins opened a 10-game homestand at loanDepot Park.

Trailing 6-1 in the opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami clawed back in the eighth inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth.

They cut it to 6-5 and brought the winning run to the plate, but the rally fell short.

The Marlins (15-17) turn to right-hander Max Meyer on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET as they look to return to the win column.

Meyer (1-0, 3.30 ERA) allowed one unearned run over five innings in a no-decision April 26 against the San Francisco Giants.

The Marlins are 6-1 in seven day games at loanDepot park this season, with the only defeat coming April 18 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers.

Philadelphia (13-19) will start rookie right-hander Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25), a native of Pompano Beach, Florida.

Painter attended Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and the Phillies selected him with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round.

This afternoon, the Marlins selected the contract of right-hander Josh Ekness (No. 95) from Triple-A Jacksonville and optioned left-handed reliever Cade Gibson to Jacksonville.

Gibson allowed five hits and four runs, including a three-run home run by Bryson Stott in the seventh inning, over 1 2/3 innings Friday.

Ekness, 24, a 12th-round pick by Miami in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, has recorded 21 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings for Jacksonville this season.

He will look to become the first pitcher and second Marlin to make their Major League debut this season, joining infielder Deyvison De Los Santos

10-game, 10-day homestand continues Saturday for Marlins

The Marlins continue a critical run at home with chances to gain ground in the standings

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Brandon Liguori