30-year Marliniversary: Marlins stun Rockies with 5-run 8th

Mike Ferguson · April 28, 2024

On this day 30 years ago, the Florida Marlins erased a four-run deficit in the eighth to top the Colorado Rockies.

As 1993 expansion sisters, it only made sense that the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies used one another to compare their early success. The Rockies were the first to make the postseason, but the Marlins are the only one of the franchises to have won the World Series.

Colorado held a 7-5 edge in the inaugural season, but the Marlins dominated head-to-head competition in 1994, winning nine of the 12 meetings. On this day 30 years ago, Florida won in thrilling fashion with a five-run eighth to stun the Rockies, 8-7.

A five-run fifth for Colorado had put the Rockies up 7-3 as the April 28, 1994 contest at Joe Robbie Stadium headed to the bottom of the eighth. To that point, Colorado starter Greg Harris had been solid, but manager Don Baylor may have left him in for too long.

After a single by Jerry Browne and a walk to Gary Sheffield started the bottom of the eighth for Florida, Harris recorded his final out of the night as Jeff Conine flew out to right. A single by Orestes Destrade cut the lead to 7-4 and ended Harris' night.

With Willie Blair now in relief, the Marlins took advantage. They went ahead for good with three straight hits.

Blair threw just 13 pitches but failed to record an out. Bret Barberie followed Benito Santiago's RBI single with a single of his own to load the bases. Alex Arias kept the momentum going with a two-run single to center. An error by Rockies center fielder Ellis Burks allowed a third run to score as the Marlins went ahead for good, 8-7.

Bruce Ruffin was able to retire the two Florida hitters he faced to keep it a one-run game before the Rockies threatened in the ninth. Three walks loaded the bases against Florida closer Jeremy Hernandez, but the right-hander was able to get the job done. After committing the costly error in the eighth, Burks grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the contest.

Although his night ended on a low note, Burks finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored for Colorado in the loss. Dante Bichette and Roberto Mejía also went deep for Colorado. Arias and Chuck Carr each finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Marlins. Robb Nen worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.

The thrilling win gave the Marlins their second one-run win over Colorado in as many nights and came one week after Florida took two of three from the Rockies at Mile High Stadium. It also came on this day three decades ago.

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