25-year Marliniversary: Johnson's go-ahead pinch-hit slam sparks Marlins comeback in San Diego

[Mike Ferguson]

Over his two stints with the Florida Marlins, Charles Johnson won four Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star. One of the best in baseball behind the plate, Johnson came through clutch at it on this day 25 years ago.

One night after catching A.J. Burnett’s no-hitter, Johnson was given the day off by Marlins manager John Boles. Called on to pinch hit with the bases loaded in the seventh, Johnson turned a three-run deficit into a one-run lead and began a streak of nine unanswered runs in a 10-4 win over the San Diego Padres.

A solo home run by Kevin Millar in the first had accounted for all the Florida offense as the Marlins came to bat against Kevin Jarvis in the top of the seventh at Qualcomm Stadium on May 13, 2001. Jarvis got Eric Owens and Millar to fly out to open the frame but after back-to-back singles from Preston Wilson and Derrek Lee, San Diego went to the bullpen.

Lefty Kevin Walker came in and walked Florida’s Cliff Floyd on four pitches. As Padres manager Bruce Bochy turned to right-hander Jay Witasick, Florida turned to Johnson.

Witasick was able to get ahead in the count, but Johnson turned on his 1-2 offering and deposited it into the left-field stands for the go-ahead pinch-hit grand slam. The Marlins went ahead for good, but the offense wasn’t done.

Florida put the contest out of reach with five runs in the eighth. After Preston Wilson singled to extend the lead to 6-4, Floyd came through with a bases-clearing triple. Johnson, who stayed in the game to catch, followed with an RBI single to give the Marlins a 10-4 lead and to cap the scoring.

With the win, the Marlins also clinched the three-run series. Wilson finished 4-for-4 in the win with two runs scored and an RBI. Johnson, who had just two plate appearances, had the only other multi-hit game for Florida, finishing with five RBIs.

Bubba Trammell finished with a home run and three RBIs for San Diego. Ryan Klesko and Ben Davis each had two hits and a run scored. 

In parts of seven total seasons with the Marlins, Johnson had 75 home runs for the club. The lone grand slam of his tenure was a pinch-hit blast that put Florida ahead for good in a Sunday afternoon rubber game in San Diego. It came on this day a quarter-century ago.

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