15-year Marliniversary: Buck blasts grand slam in Fish debut

[Mike Ferguson]

An All-Star for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, catcher John Buck signed with the Florida Marlins prior to the start of the 2011 season. On this day 15 years ago, Buck made his presence felt in his Marlins debut.

The Marlins and New York Mets were scoreless through three and a half innings on opening day at Sun Life Stadium on April 1, 2011. That changed with one swing of the bat from Buck as the Marlins went on to collect a 6-2 victory.

The Marlins had gone in order in the second and third innings against New York starter Mike Pelfrey, but after Hanley Ramírez flew out to open the bottom of the fourth, walks to Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morris bookended a Gaby Sánchez double. That set the stage for Buck.

Buck worked an eight-pitch at-bat in the second before flying out. In the fourth, Buck again saw eight Pelfrey pitches. This time, however, he was able to get the good part of the bat onto the ball, depositing a grand slam into the right-center field seats.

Buck’s blast broke a scoreless tie and put the Marlins ahead for good. After Sánchez extended the lead with an RBI single in the fifth, the Mets finally got to Florida starter Josh Johnson, who took a no-hitter into the seventh, with a pair of runs. New York brought the tying run to the plate, but reliever Mike Dunn was able to fan Scott Hairston to end the threat.

A solo blast from Morrison to lead off the bottom of the eight capped the scoring. Juan Carlos Oviedo, then known as Leo Nuñez, retired the Mets in order to seal the victory.

Johnson picked up the win, allowing two runs on just three hits in 6 ⅔ innings. Buck and Sánchez each had two of Florida’s 10 hits.

Buck never equaled his 2010 totals when he hit .281 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs but was serviceable in his two seasons with the Marlins. Buck hit just .227 in 2011, but his 16 home runs and 57 RBIs were the most for a Florida catcher in four years. He began his stay in South Florida with a bang on this day 15 years ago.

View full article

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

It's of no mind, but I'm writing here anyway about how I enjoy these archival stories. After my Expos were moved to the DC cesspool at the close of the 2094 season, I quit baseball com turkey. Sad and truly disgusted, fifteen seasons passed and the sport wasn't a part of my life.

I watch Marlins Jeopardy without personal involvement. 2014 might as well be 1914 for me. I didn't watch games. I don't know the stories of these seasons. It's fresh to me, in many cases.

 

[1993 fan from start]

great video and story guys.  it trown me off when saying Giancarlo Stanton play for the Florida marlins. I thought it was mike station that play for Flordia marlins.

[1993 fan from start]

was that Marlin Man in the crowd? lol holding Buck Sing.

 craig minervini with his hair white . hand held in the air. lol 

 Paul Reiser with a Tie on lol

the guy in green shirt    one of the Marlins Mermaid.

Craig know how to party at the old stadium.