15-year Marlinversary: Sánchez takes no-hitter into the ninth against Rockies

[Mike Ferguson]

Aníbal Sánchez was the last Florida Marlins pitcher to throw a no-hitter at what was originally called Joe Robbie Stadium. Although he threw just one no-no as a member of the Fish, he was three outs away from a second on this day 15 years ago.

Through eight innings, Sánchez had held Colorado without a hit at Sun Life Stadium on April 22, 2011. Despite being without a hit, the Rockies did get a first-inning run and trailed 4-1 as they came to bat in the top of the ninth.

On the very first pitch of the ninth inning, Colorado’s Dexter Fowler put an end to the no-hit bid with a single through the right side. Although the no-hitter was no longer a possibility, Sánchez did face the minimum in the ninth. Fowler would be doubled off on a flyout by Jonathan Herrera before Carlos González grounded out to end the game.

Sánchez finished the night with a one-hitter on 123 pitches with three walks and nine strikeouts.

After the Rockies took advantage of a walk, passed ball and error to score the game’s first run, the Marlins drew even in the bottom of the first on a lead-off home run by Chris Coghlan. Florida manufactured a pair of runs an inning later to go ahead for good.

Gaby Sánchez capped the scoring with a homer to lead off the third off Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacín. While Colorado managed just one hit, Coghlan, Omar Infante, Gaby Sánchez and Emilio Bonifácio each had two of the nine for Florida.

As a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2013, Sánchez again lost a no-hitter in the ninth against the Minnesota Twins. After tossing a no-hitter for the Marlins against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, the victory over Colorado would be Sánchez’s second of three one-hitters as a member of the club. It came on this day 15 years ago.

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