What happened: Jackson Merrill connected on a fly ball to right field for his eighth home run of the season, a blast that scored Samad Taylor ahead of him. The umpiring crew reviewed the call as a possible home run, and the ruling on the field was upheld after replay. The runs pushed the visiting side to a six-run total at the top of the ninth inning.

Why it matters: A late-inning, two-run homer in the ninth widens a lead and shrinks the margin for any comeback, putting pressure on the home side's final at-bats. Merrill continuing to drive the ball is a meaningful sign for a lineup leaning on its young bat for production. Power from the same Jackson Merrill whose single ended Sanchez's scoreless streak adds to a strong recent stretch.

What to watch: Watch whether Merrill keeps producing in the heart of the order over the next series, and how the result reshapes the standings in the days ahead.