Joey Bart’s Late Blast Puts Friars in Control of the Series

Baseball, as it often does, found its poetry in the unexpected. Two nights in a row, the story belonged not to a superstar or a headline arm, but to a backup catcher thrust into the spotlight. Joey Bart, the man brought in as insurance, has become the man writing San Diego’s October script.

After his dramatic walk-off in Game One, Bart did it again. This time, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the score tied 3–3, he sent another ball soaring into the night sky, a towering drive to left-center field that disappeared beyond the wall and into San Diego lore. The Friars walked off the Miami Hawks once more, 5–3, to take a 2–0 series lead before the series shifts east.

But to tell the story of the ninth, you first have to tell the story of the night.

San Diego’s front office made headlines at the trade convention, moving aggressively to acquire Tyler Glasnow and Carlos Correa. Both were front and center in Game Two. Glasnow wasn’t overpowering, but he was steady, six strong innings, seven hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts, allowing only a single run. Correa, meanwhile, opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth, setting the tone for a 3–1 Friars lead by the time Glasnow exited.

That lead held thanks to a pair of dependable arms in Griffin Jax and Kenley Jansen, who combined to navigate the seventh and eighth. By the time the ninth inning arrived, the Friars looked poised to secure a 3–1 win and head to Miami comfortably ahead.

But baseball rarely takes the straight path.

Closer Raisel Iglesias got the first out easily, a routine fly ball from Wilyer Abreu. Then Nick Castellanos doubled into the corner, bringing the tying run to the plate. Cedric Mullins grounded back to the mound, two outs. All that stood between the Friars and a commanding series lead was Miami’s ninth hitter, catcher Victor Caratini.

Caratini, quiet all evening, worked a 1–1 count before sending a long drive down the right-field line. It started fair, tailed foul, and then, impossibly, struck the foul pole. Fair ball. Home run. Just like that, a two-run swing tied the game 3–3. Iglesias could only stare in disbelief as Caratini rounded the bases, savoring every step.

And so, for the second straight night, it came down to the bottom of the ninth in San Diego.

Two outs. A runner on second. Joey Bart at the plate. Kevin Ginkel on the mound.

Ginkel came set. The pitch — a fastball up. Bart swung. A high fly to left-center. Drifting. Carrying. Gone.

In two games, Bart has turned a backup’s opportunity into a postseason legend.

San Diego wins, 5–3, and heads to Miami with all the momentum. For the Hawks, it was another hard-fought night that slipped away in the final breath, the kind of loss that lingers just a little longer in October.

The Friars lead the series two games to none.

W – Iglesias (BS) L – Ginkel SV – None HR – Correa (SD), Bart (SD), Caratini (MIA)

The Friars now head to Miami with a chance to close out the series — led not by the names everyone expected, but by the ones who simply refused to let the moment pass them by.