5-year Marliniversary: Homers by Rojas, Cooper propel Marlins past Pirates in 10

[Mike Ferguson]

On this day five years ago, a homer by Miguel Rojas tied it in the ninth before a Garrett Cooper blast won it in the 10th. 

For the 2019 Miami Marlins, the calendar turning to September—the final full month of the regular season—was a welcomed sight. On this day five years ago, however, the Marlins got their first win of the month in thrilling fashion.

Down to their last out, Miguel Rojas tied things up with a solo home run. Garrett Cooper's solo blast in the 10th turned out to be the game-winner as Miami rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-4.

Trailing 4-3, things looked bleak for Miami as Rojas came to the plate with two outs against Pittsburgh's Felipe Vazquez in the top of the ninth at PNC Park on Sept. 3, 2019. Jason Martin scored on a wild pitch in the previous half-inning to give Pittsburgh the lead. Vazquez began the ninth by retiring Martín Prado and Jon Berti.

To that point in the season, Rojas had just four homers. On a 2-1 fastball, the Miami shortstop was able to crush it over the wall in straightaway center for the game-tying blast.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates came close to walking it off. Following back-to-back two-out walks by reliever Tyler Kinley, Adam Frazier rolled Adam Conley's first pitch of the night to shortstop. Frazier reached on an infield single, but rather than stopping at third, Pablo Reyes was easily thrown out by Cooper at the plate to preserve the tie.

Following the heads-up play in the field, Cooper delivered at the plate in the top of the 10th. On a 1-0 hanger from Pittsburgh's Parker Markel, Cooper belted a no-doubter past the seats in left-center field to give the Marlins the lead for good. 

José Ureña worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th to pick up his second career save and first of the season. Conley was credited with the win.

Cooper finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBIs in the win. Frazier had a monster night for the Pirates, going 3-for-4 with a lead-off home run and three RBIs.

The thrilling win over Pittsburgh would serve as the final extra-inning win of the season for the Marlins and one of seven that year. It came on this day five years ago. 

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