15-Year Marliniversary: Pudge Delivers Fish in Extras of NLDS Game 3

The first playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in six years brought a raucous crowd on Oct. 3, 2003 as the Florida Marlins hosted the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

After having no answer for Jason Schmidt in Game 1, the Marlins had busted out the big bats in Game 2 to even the series at a game apiece and send it back to South Florida. The next two games in Miami would be absolute thrillers, including one that took place on this day 15 years ago.

The prospect of facing elimination looked inevitable as Florida headed to the bottom of the 11th inning on the short end of a 3-2 score. San Francisco had taken the lead in the top half of the inning on an RBI single by Edgardo Alfonzo that scored shortstop Rich Aurilia. Braden Looper, the Florida reliever, was able to minimize the damage, but the Marlins needed a run in the bottom half to avoid falling behind two games to one.

Florida caught a break in the bottom half after right fielder Jose Cruz misplayed a routine flyball to off the bat of Jeff Conine. The Marlins would load the bases with one out, but Luis Castillo was unable to get the run home as the Giants managed to get the force out at home plate. That left the contest up to future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.

Down to his last strike, Rodriguez stayed back on an outside fastball from San Francisco closer Tim Worrell and lined the ball into right field for a single. Alex Gonzalez scored the tying run and speedster Juan Pierre slid in for the winning run as the Marlins pulled through with a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory.

Rodriguez would be responsible for plating all four Florida runs in the victory as he also opened the scoring with a 2-run home run in the first inning. The Giants didn't draw even until the sixth when Cruz and Pedro Feliz came through with RBI hits.

The game-winning 2-run single from Rodriguez would be the first magical moment from what would be a magical postseason for the Marlins in Rodriguez's only year with the franchise. 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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