15-year Marliniversary: Badenhop's 11th-inning single lifts Fish past Mets at Citi Field

[Mike Ferguson]

Over his eight years in the big leagues, pitcher Burke Badenhop had just three hits. On this day 15 years ago, however, he had the biggest hit of the night.

Also the winning pitcher for the evening, Badenhop came through with the winning hit in the top of the 11th. His single up the middle lifted the Florida Marlins to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets.

A solo home run by Giancarlo (then known as Mike) Stanton in the seventh inning had accounted for all the scoring for Florida as the contest at Citi Field went to the 11th on May 16, 2011. Against Ryota Igarashi, Stanton opened the top of the 11th with a single up the middle. Igarashi retired Brett Hayes and Omar Infante but after Emilio Bonifácio singled to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, the Marlins had a decision to make.

Without any available position players, Badenhop was left in to hit. After working a scoreless 10th on the mound, the right-hander worked the count full at the plate before lining one up the middle to score Stanton and give Florida its first lead of the night.

In the bottom of the 11th, Juan Carlos Oviedo, then known as Leo Núñez, opened the frame by retiring the first two Mets he faced. With New York out of position players, it had to turn to a pitcher to hit. Like Badenhop, Jon Niese worked the count full before belting a triple to centerfield to give the Mets life. Oviedo, however, was able to settle in and strike out All-Star José Reyes to end the game.

Both teams finished with nine hits in the contest. Infante had three for Florida while Stanton added two and scored both Marlins runs. Reyes and Justin Turner each had two hits for the Mets.

As for Badenhop, the victory would serve as his final road win as a member of the Marlins. His heroics at the plate accounted for the final RBI of his career. It came in the 11th inning on this day 15 years ago.

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