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.


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

Marlins' Top 5 Mother's Day Moments

Image
(Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports) Whether you're just enjoying a day with mom, taking her out to the ballgame or trying just to leave her alone, there's one thing about Mother's Day and the Florida/Miami Marlins. They've played on that day every year since their inception in 1993. This year's opponent for the second Mother's Day in a row will be the Atlanta Braves. Whether you get to watch the action or are busy with mom, we've got the good times for you. Here's a look at the top five moments in Marlins' history on Mother's Day: 5. Moore's Pinch-Hit Blast May 14, 2017 For most of last season's Mother's Day contest, the Miami Marlins had been unable to figure out Atlanta Braves' starting pitcher R.A. Dickey. Through six innings, the Marlins had been kept off the scoreboard and held to three hits. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh however, the Marlins had something brewing. After Giancarlo Stanton doubled and A.J...
Read more

15-Year Marliniversary: Lowell's Walk-Off Blast in Extras Lifts Fish Past Mets

Image
Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images Over the last couple weeks, the Miami Marlins have had their fair share of exciting victories. That was also the case for the then-Florida Marlins on this day 15 years ago. The Marlins were 28-20 and in first place in the National League East as they prepared for the middle game of a three-game set against the New York Mets at Pro Player Stadium on May 29, 2004. Florida took the lead in the first as Lenny Harris grounded into a double play to plate a run. The Mets drew even on a Ty Wiggington solo homer in the second inning and took the lead in the fourth on a Karim Garcia RBI single. Álex González’s RBI single in the bottom of that inning scored Jeff Conine and evened the contest. Florida had won in walk-off fashion more than a week before against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a bases-loaded walk to Mike Redmond, but the only walk-off home run of the season for 2004 would come against the Mets off the bat of Mike Lowell. An All-Star, ...
Read more