25-Year Marliniversary: Marlins, Bowen Pitch First Shutout in Franchise History

(Photo: Getty Images)
When the Florida Marlins headed to St. Louis in mid-May of 1993, the team had already crossed a number of firsts off its list.

On May 15, 1993 at Busch Stadium however, the team was able to add another one. At 15-20, the Marlins were performing better than most had expected in their inaugural season of baseball, but what the team had yet to do was shut out an opponent. On that Saturday evening in St. Louis, starting pitcher Ryan Bowen made sure that would change.

In a contest that lasted just over two and a half hours, the Marlins topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-0, for their first shutout win ever. Bowen not only got the win for Florida, but he went the distance.

Bowen became the first-ever Florida hurler to toss a complete game shutout. Bowen threw 119 pitches over nine innings, scattering six hits and four walks while striking out three.

Bowen worked out of trouble in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and was helped throughout the night by getting future Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith to hit into a pair of double plays. Bowen capped the contest by striking out infielder Luis Alicea looking.

As for the offense, the Marlins were fueled by lead-off man Chuck Carr and the infield. Carr, third baseman Rick Renteria, second baseman Alex Arias and shortstop Walt Weiss each had two hits for Florida. Carr, Renteria and Weiss each drove in a pair of runs while Arias scored twice. The Marlins scored runs in five of the final six innings, including three in the fifth and two in the eighth.

Since that time, the Marlins have kept a number of opponents off the scoreboard, including the New York Yankees in the clinching Game 6 of the 2003 World Series. The first shutout in franchise history however, took place on this day 25 years ago.  

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Marlins Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15-Year Maliniversary: Lowell Becomes First Marlin to Homer Three Times in One Game

Image
Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images Third baseman Mike Lowell certainly had his share of postseason heroics with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox, but on this day 15 years ago, the Gold Glove third baseman did something that no Marlin had ever done -- leave the yard three times in one game. The defending world champion Florida Marlins were riding high on April 21, 2004 as they looked to clinch the series by taking the middle game of a 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies. Florida was 9-4 on the young season compared to just 5-7 for Philadelphia. Through five and a half innings, a solo home run by Lowell off Philadelphia starter Eric Milton to lead off the second inning accounted for all the scoring. Then in the bottom of the sixth, the Phillies pushed across five runs with a 2-run homer from Jim Thome putting Philadelphia ahead. Trailing 5-1 entering the seventh, Florida answered back with five runs of its own. After the Marlins pushed
Read more

5-Year Marliniversary: Stanton's Walk-Off Slam Downs Mariners

Image
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Few things in baseball are mre exciting than a walk-off home run and during his tenure with the Florida/Miami Marlins, Giancarlo Stanton had his fair share of those. One of those came on this day five years ago and it came with the bases loaded. Both the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners were below .500 early in the 2014 season when they began a 3-game set at Marlins Park on April 18, 2014. The Marlins never trailed in the contest, but Seattle seemed to always have an answer -- at least that was the case until Stanton came to the plate with the bases filled in the bottom of the ninth. Yoervis Medina came in to pitch for Seattle in a 4-4 game to start the ninth, but never was able to record an out. After Reed Johnson singled to start the inning, Christian Yelich was able to reach on a bunt hit. A misplayed bunt off the bat of Marcell Ozuna loaded the bags and set the stage for Stanton. Medina was able to get ahead in the count before Stanton launched
Read more

5-Year Marliniversary: Fernandez Ks Career-High 14 in 1-0 Win Over Braves

Image
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Former Miami Marlins' pitcher Jose Fernandez was something to see. A native of Cuba, Fernandez wore his emotions on his sleeve and was filled with enthusiasm on the mound before his unexpected death in 2016. On this day five years ago, the young Fernandez, then a second-year pitcher, struck out a career-high 14 Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Fernandez was flawless in a 1-0 win for the Marlins. An RBI single by Casey McGhee to score Giancarlo Stanton in the fourth inning would provide all the scoring in the contest. That would be all that Fernandez needed. The Marlins were just 8-10 on the season when they arrived at Turner Field on April 22, 2014 to face the 13-6 Atlanta Braves. Throughout the evening, Atlanta managed just three hits. Fernandez struck out one batter in each of the first three innings before striking out the side in the fourth and fifth. Two of the three hits for the Braves off Fernandez came in the eighth inning. With two runn
Read more