15-Year Marliniversary: 2003 NLDS Ends on Play at the Plate

(Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated)
The Florida/Miami Marlins have only made the postseason just twice in 26 years of baseball, but both of those appearances ended in a world championship and more than one series ended in dramatic fashion. One of those took place on this day 15 years ago.

One day after taking a 2-1 series lead on a walk-off 2-run single by catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, the Florida Marlins remained in front of their home crowd the following afternoon to try to close the door on the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The series would end in unforgettable fashion with a collision at home plate on Oct. 4, 2003.

With the contest tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, it appeared as though Florida would win in its last at-bat. The Marlins took a 7-5 lead into the top of the ninth following a 2-run single by rookie Miguel Cabrera -- his second of the day.

Ugueth Urbina, the Florida closer, was given the ball in the ninth, but immediately ran into trouble by allowing a double to Neifi Perez and an RBI single to J.T. Snow. Urbina would settle in and get the next two hitters before plunking Ray Durham to move Snow into scoring position.
Outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, the following hitter, took the first pitch he saw from Urbina and served it into left field for a hit, but Florida left fielder Jeff Conine came up throwing. Rodriguez was able to catch the ball on the bounce and absorb the contact from Snow. After being tackled in celebration and before shaking the ball as if he had literally ripped out San Francisco's heart, Rodriguez showed the ball to the umpire and got the out call.

The Marlins were victorious, 7-6. The game was over and so was the series.

For the early parts of the game, it looked as though the Marlins may cruise to victory and the National League Championship Series. After drawing even with a run in the bottom of the second, Florida went ahead with two runs in the third inning on RBI hits by Rodriguez and Derrek Lee and then two more in fourth on a 2-run single by Cabrera to take a 5-1 lead.

Ace Jason Schmidt was unable to go on two days' rest for the Giants, so they turned to Jerome Williams. Eventual National League Rookie of the Year, Dontrelle Willis, got his first playoff start for Florida and appeared to be in control until the sixth when he gave up hits to four of the first five batters he faced.

San Francisco would tie the contest with four runs in the frame, thanks to RBI doubles from Rich Aurilia and Edgardo Alfonzo, along with a sacrifice fly from Barry Bonds and the tying single off the bat of Snow. The score would remain unchanged until the final at-bats for both teams.

As for Rodriguez, the Hall of Fame catcher would make 14 All-Star Games, win 13 Gold Gloves and one league MVP honor in 21 seasons in Major League Baseball. Of those 21 seasons, only 2003 was spent with the Marlins and that would be the only season in which Rodriguez would be a world champion. Perhaps his most memorable moment from his short time in Miami came on this day 15 years ago.

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


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