10-year Marliniversary: Fernández homers, wins in return from Tommy John surgery

[Mike Ferguson]

The 2013 National League Rookie of the Year, José Fernández was limited to just eight games in 2014 before going down with a season-ending injury. On this day 10 years ago, Fernández showed he still had it in his return from Tommy John surgery.

In his first game in more than a year, Fernández gave the Miami Marlins six strong innings and a quality start. It was enough to pick up the win as the Marlins held off the San Francisco Giants, 5-4.

Having not pitched since May 2014, it was understandable for there to be a little rust as Fernández took the mound at Marlins Park on July 2, 2015. San Francisco was able to get to Fernández for two runs in the first. From there, however, the right-hander looked like his old self— both on the mound and at the plate.

Down 2-0 in the third, Adeiny Hechavarría singled home the first run for Miami. San Francisco's Grégor Blanco led off the fifth with a home run to extend the lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, Fernández took matters into his own hands.

Against Matt Cain, Fernández led off the inning with a solo home run to left to cut the deficit to 3-2. It would serve as the catalyst for a four-run inning.

After a walk to Christian Yelich and a single from Hechavarría, Justin Bour put the Marlins ahead to stay with a three-run home run off Cain on the second pitch of the at-bat. What had been a two-run deficit for the Marlins to start the half-inning had become a two-run lead, 5-3.

Following the Blanco blast to lead off the fifth, Fernández retired the final six batters he faced. For the night, he allowed three runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts in six innings.

The Giants closed to within 5-4 on a solo home run by Buster Posey off Carter Capps to lead off the eighth. Capps responded by striking out the side. AJ Ramos sealed the deal with retiring San Francisco in order in the ninth on just five pitches.

Limited to just 11 starts, Fernández finished 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 2015. The following year, he made his second All-Star Game while setting career-highs for wins, innings pitched, and a team-record 253 strikeouts.

Fernández's life ended tragically when a boat he was operating struck a jetty at Miami Beach in the early morning hours on Sept. 25, 2016, killing Fernández, Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Jesus Macias. While many have criticized Fernández's actions that culminated in his death and the death of two others, his short but stellar baseball career is worth remembering. He picked up his 17th career victory in his return from Tommy John on this day a decade ago. 

View full article