20-year Marliniversary: Marlins rally from 5 down to take series vs. Rangers

[Mike Ferguson]

Although it didn't culminate in a postseason appearance, the Florida Marlins' 2005 season certainly had its moments. For the second year in a row, the Marlins finished 83-79, marking a third straight winning season—still the longest stretch in franchise history.

On this day 20 years ago, Florida clinched the three-game set against the Texas Rangers by rallying from five runs down to win, 6-5. The Marlins had taken the first game of the series the night before with a seven-run eighth to break a 5-5 tie.

A grand slam by Kevin Mench off Al Leiter had highlighted the Rangers' strong start at Dolphins Stadium on June 11, 2005. As Florida came to bat in the bottom of the fourth, it was down 5-0 and still looking for its first hit.

After Miguel Cabrera drew a two-out walk to give the Marlins their first base runner of the night, Florida's first runs and first hit came on the same swing. Carlos Delgado's two-run home run on a 2-2 pitch from Texas starter Kenny Rogers cut the deficit to three. 

Florida reliever Travis Smith was able to leave runners on the bases in each of the next two innings to keep the deficit at 5-2. In the sixth, the Marlins drew even with three runs.

One-out singles from Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo brought the tying run to the plate for Florida. Two batters later, Delgado lined a 3-2 pitch to right field, scoring Pierre. One pitch later, Mike Lowell doubled home two to knot the score 5-5.

John Riedling followed Smith's lead by stranding multiple Texas runners in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Álex González led things off by taking Juan Domínguez deep. The solo shot to left gave the Marlins a 6-5 lead and put them ahead for good.

The Rangers left nine men on base from the fourth through seventh innings. Unfortunately for Texas, that would be their last real scoring opportunities. Jim Mecir and Todd Jones each worked 1-2-3 innings for the Marlins to close things out and complete the comeback.

Both teams finished with nine hits. Delgado and Paul Lo Duca each recorded a pair for Florida. Sandy Alomar Jr. (3) and Hank Blalock (2) combined for five hits for the Rangers.

The Marlins were unable to complete the sweep the following day, but the five-run comeback gave Florida the series victory and served as the biggest deficit overcome all year by Florida in the Rangers' second-ever trip to South Florida. It came on this day two decades ago.

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