25-Year Marliniversary: Alex Fernandez Shines in First Game in More Than a Year

[Mike Ferguson]

Alex Fernandez returned from a rotator cuff injury to throw an Opening Day gem. 

A key piece to the Florida Marlins' run to the 1997 World Series title, right-hander Alex Fernandez was unable to pitch in the Fall Classic after tearing his rotator cuff during the postseason. On this day 25 years ago, Fernandez showed that he still had something left in the tank.

In his first game in about 18 months, the Miami native stole the show. Fernandez shined as the rebuilding Florida Marlins opened the 1999 season with a 6-2 win over the New York Mets.

The Marlins finished a league-worst 54-108 the year prior as Fernandez took the Pro Player Stadium mound on April 5, 1999. Matched up against a familiar face in Al Leiter, who happened to be the starting pitcher for Florida in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, Fernandez stole the show.

Things didn't come easy early on as the Mets loaded the bases in the first. Fernandez was able to get Robin Ventura to fly out to end the threat.

The Marlins wasted no time giving their starting pitcher the lead as four of the first five hitters singled. Derrek Lee plated Luis Castillo for the first run before Todd Dunwoody drove in Mark Kotsay with a single of his own. Following a passed ball, Preston Wilson's sacrifice fly pushed the Florida lead to 3-0.

After Fernandez stranded two more runners in the second, the Mets were able to get to the Florida starter with a run in the third on a Ventura sacrifice fly. Fernandez, however, bounced back to retire eight of the final nine hitters he faced.

Fernandez went five innings, allowing just a run on five hits and three walks. He struck out five.

With Fernandez's day done, Florida continued to tack on runs. Wilson singled home a run in the bottom of the fifth before coming around to score on an RBI double from Kevin Orie. In the eighth, the Marlins extended their lead to 6-1 on an RBI groundout from Castillo that scored Orie.

New York's John Olerud capped the scoring with a solo home run off Florida closer Matt Mantei in the ninth, but for the first time in more than a year, Fernandez was a winner. Castillo, Kotsay, Lee and Orie each had two of the 12 hits for the Marlins. Olerud and Edgardo Alfonzo each finished with two hits for the Mets.

Although the Marlins finished just 64-98 in 1999, Fernandez was tied for second on the team with seven wins while posting an ERA of 3.38, the best among Florida starters. In 10 total seasons in Major League Baseball, Fernandez notched 107 career wins. His first of two Opening Day victories—both as a member of the Marlins—came on this day a quarter-century ago. 

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