15-year Marliniversary: Stanton's 8th-inning blast breaks tie, propels Fish past Rockies

[Mike Ferguson]

After Aníbal Sánchez took a no-hitter into the ninth inning to open the Florida Marlins’ home series with the Colorado Rockies early during the 2011 season, Giancarlo Stanton (then known as Mike Stanton) capped it with a bang.

On this day 15 years ago, Stanton’s three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth delivered the Marlins past the Rockies in the rubber game of a three-game series, 6-3.

Like Sánchez two nights prior, Marlins starter Josh Johnson had kept the Rockies hitless through five innings at Sun Life Stadium on April 24, 2011. Florida finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning on a bases-clearing triple from Omar Infante. Colorado, however, fought back.

After Jonathan Herrera’s RBI double got the Rockies on the board in the sixth, Colorado drew even at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the eighth against the Florida bullpen. Rockies lefty Matt Reynolds was able to strike out Chris Coghlan to open the bottom of the inning, but a pitching change to Matt Belisle was made shortly after.

Infante was able to single off Belisle, who followed by striking out Hanley Ramírez. After Gaby Sánchez worked a six-pitch walk, Stanton came to the plate with two outs and the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Stanton took the first pitch for a ball. The second pitch was in the strike zone and the Florida slugger didn’t miss it. On an offspeed pitch that got too much of the plate, Stanton turned on it for a no-doubter as the Marlins took a 6-3 lead.

Juan Carlos Oviedo—then known as Leo Núñez—worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win and collect the save. Lefty Mike Dunn was credited with the victory.

In addition to Infante’s two hits, Stanton’s game-winning blast was the only other hit for Florida. It happened to be the biggest one of the game. It came on this day 15 years ago.

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