30-year Marliniversary: Sheffield's late blast completes comeback, sweep vs. Dodgers

[Mike Ferguson]

For the Florida Marlins in 1996, Gary Sheffield set a single-season home run record that would last for more than two decades.

One of his more heroic blasts from that memorable season came on this day 30 years ago. Down by four runs through five and a half innings and by three at the seventh-inning stretch, Sheffield’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh capped a four-run inning as the Marlins rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete the three-game series sweep, 5-4.

Through four innings at Joe Robbie Stadium on April 21, 1996, things were scoreless. Todd Hollandsworth, the eventual National League Rookie of the Year and later a 2003 World Series champion with the Marlins, singled in the first run in the top of the fifth off Florida ace Kevin Brown. An inning later, Eric Karros unloaded off Brown with a three-run homer to turn a one-run lead for Los Angeles into a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Marlins were able to get on the board, thanks to three straight RBI singles from Sheffield, Jeff Conine and Terry Pendleton. In the bottom of the seventh, Florida got its first cracks at the Los Angeles bullpen.

After six strong innings from starter Pedro Astacio, manager Tommy Lasorda turned to Antonio Osuna. Charles Johnson was able to single off Osuna to start the Florida seventh, but the right-hander responded by getting Kurt Abbott to fly out before striking out Andre Dawson. Quilvio Veras followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate, and just like that, Osuna’s night was over.

Lefty Scott Radinsky was tasked with facing Joe Orsulak, and for the most part, he did his job, getting Orsulak to roll one to first. Radinsky ran over to cover, but Karros’ throw was off target, allowing a run to score. As Sheffield came to the plate, Lasorda went back to the bullpen and righty Darren Hall.

Hall gave up five runs in the eighth in the series opener. Against Sheffield, he fared no better. On a 2-1 pitch, Sheffield was able to line one over the wall in center field for the go-ahead three-run home run. What had been a 4-0 deficit just an inning prior had become a 5-4 Marlins lead.

David Weathers and Yorkis Pérez combined to strand a runner in scoring position in the eighth. Pérez and Terry Mathews combined to retire the Dodgers in order in the ninth.

Although the contest was scoreless through four innings, it did have some fireworks early on. After Astacio hit Greg Colbrunn in the helmet with a pitch in the second, Brown threw behind the Dodgers pitcher with two outs in the top of the third, causing benches to clear. No ejections were made.

The victory served as the second comeback win of the series and completed the three-game sweep for the Marlins. The Dodgers outhit Florida 10-6, but two of the Marlins’ hits, including the biggest one of the night, belonged to Sheffield. It came on this day three decades ago.

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