15-Year Marliniversary: Gonzalez Hits World Series Walk-Off Blast

Palm Beach Post
The 2018 World Series doesn't get underway until Tuesday, but that doesn't mean South Florida baseball fans can't start celebrating early. On this day 15 years ago came one of the most memorable moments in Florida/Miami Marlins' postseason history.

Trailing the New York Yankees two games to one, nine innings wasn't enough for the Florida Marlins in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series on Oct. 22, 2003. New York designated hitter Ruben Sierra had come through with a 2-run triple in the ninth inning to force extra innings as the teams were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation.

The Yankees put runners in scoring position in both the 10th and 11th innings but were unable to get any of them home. The Yankees had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the 11th, but Florida reliever Braden Looper was able to strike out Aaron Boone and get John Flaherty to pop out to end the threat.

The Marlins hadn't had a hit since the eighth inning when shortstop Alex Gonzalez came to bat against Jeff Weaver to lead off the bottom of the 12th. Gonzalez had been 0-for-4 for the evening and just 1-for-13 for the series when he stepped to the plate.

On a 3-2 pitch from Weaver, Gonzalez got good wood on a pitch and pulled it down the left field line. The shot avoided the teal tower in left center and sneaked just over the 330 sign on the wall near the foul pole for a walk-off solo home run to give Florida a 4-3 victory even the series.

Then rookie Miguel Cabrera got the scoring started for the Marlins that night with a 2-run home run off former Cy Young winner Roger Clemens in the first inning. Derrek Lee added an RBI sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 3-0.

Boone did likewise for the Yankees in the top of the second. That would account for all the scoring before Sierra's triple off Ugueth Urbina chased home two runs in the ninth and forced extra innings.

As for Gonzalez, his glove was never an issue but for the remainder of the series, he was a force with his bat, going 4-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI over the final two games as the Marlins won the series in six.

Gonzalez made a number of great defensive plays during his time in Miami and was an All-Star in 1999. Despite that, his most memorable moment as a Marlin was his blast down the line in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series and it came on this day 15 years ago.

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


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