30-year Marliniversary: Fish used White's 2-run single in 9th to rally past Pirates

[Mike Ferguson]

A seven-time Gold Glove winner for the California Angles and Toronto Blue Jays and a two-time World Series champion in Toronto, Devon White brought speed, stellar defense and a much-needed veteran presence to the clubhouse when he signed with the Florida Marlins prior to the 1996 season. On this day 30 years ago, White put those qualities to good use with a game-winning two-run single in the ninth as Florida rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.

White used the aforementioned speed to beat out a ground ball and bring home a run in the top of the eighth. But as the Marlins came to bat in the top of the ninth at Three Rivers Stadium on June 13, 1996, they were on the short end of a 3-2 score.

Pittsburgh closer Francisco Córdova began the inning by getting Jesús Tavárez to pop out. After consecutive singles from Joe Orsulak and Kurt Abbott, Alex Arias drew a walk to load the bases. To the plate came White.

On a 1-1 pitch, White lined it to centerfield. Both Osulak and Abbott scored standing up. White was thrown out trying to advance to second but the damage was done.

In the bottom of the ninth, Florida's Robb Nen got Mark Johnson to ground back to the mound on the first pitch before striking out both Carlos García and Al Martin to end the game. After a quality start from David Weathers, Yorkis Pérez threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Starter Zane Smith allowed just a run on five hits in seven innings for Pittsburgh.

Prior to the eighth, a solo home run from Gary Sheffield in the fourth had accounted for all the Marlins offense. Abbott finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the win. García had two of the seven hits for manager Jim Leyland and the Pirates.

The following season, Leyland and White would share a dugout as the two helped Florida win the 1997 World Series. As adversaries in the mid-June contest in 1996, however, White delivered the biggest hit of the game. It came on this day three decades ago.

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