15-Year Marliniversary: Stanton lifts Marlins past Cardinals with tiebreaking blast in 9th

[Mike Ferguson]

As the club’s all-time home run leader with 267 bombs as a member of the Florida/Miami Marlins, Giancarlo Stanton had his fair share of clutch homers as well over seven seasons with the Fish. One of those came on this day 15 years ago.

Against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Stanton, then known as Mike, came through with a two-run home run in the ninth inning to break a tie and lift the Florida Marlins to an eventual 8-7 victory.

Neither team had scored since the sixth inning as the Marlins came to the plate in the top of the ninth to face St. Louis right-hander Eduardo Sánchez on May 4, 2011. With the score tied 6-6, Hanley Ramírez walked to open the inning. Gaby Sánchez followed by striking out.

With one on and one out, Stanton came to the plate. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Stanton got a fastball middle-in and didn’t miss it. St. Louis outfielders barely moved as Stanton belted a no-doubter to left-centerfield, giving Florida an 8-6 lead.

Juan Carlos Oviedo, then known as Leo Núñez, came in to try to close it out. After retiring the first batter he faced, Oviedo allowed a solo home run to Jon Jay that cut the deficit to 8-7. Oviedo then walked Albert Pujols but was able to get Matt Holliday to ground into a game-ending double play to collect the save.

The Marlins never trailed in the contest but did let a four-run lead slip away. After the teams traded two-spots in the first inning, Florida took a 6-2 lead with four runs in the third inning. St. Louis answered with two in the bottom of the frame before drawing even with two more in the sixth.

Emilio Bonifácio finished 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored in the win. Gaby Sánchez and Chris Coghlan each added two hits. Ramírez scored three runs in the victory. Holliday finished with two hits for St. Louis.

Although Florida would finish just 72-90 and in last place in the National League East in 2011, the thrilling win put the Marlins at 19-10 for the season. That win came courtesy of a no-doubter from Stanton and on this day 15 years ago.

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