30-year Marliniversary: Marlins rally from 5-run deficit with 15 unanswered runs in win over Astros

[Mike Ferguson]

Over 34 years as a franchise, the Florida/Miami Marlins have had their fair share of high-scoring efforts. The club has also erased some big deficits. Only once, however, have the Marlins turned a five-run deficit into a win by double digits.

It happened on this day 30 years ago. After falling behind early to the Houston Astros, the Florida Marlins erupted for 15 unanswered runs in a 15-5 victory.

For the early parts of the July 15, 1996 contest at Joe Robbie Stadium, it didn’t appear to be the Marlins’ night. Against Florida starter Pat Rapp, Sean Berry gave the Astros the early lead with a two-run double in the first inning. Orlando Miller led off the second with a solo home run before Craig Biggio added an RBI single later in the frame. Before some fans could sit down, Miller’s sacrifice fly in the third inning extended the Houston lead to 5-0.

After three disappointing innings from Rapp on the mound, Florida interim manager John Boles didn’t hesitate to make a change as Kurt Abbott was called upon to hit for the Marlins starting pitcher to lead off the third. Abbott singled before scoring Florida’s first run on a balk.

In fact, the Marlins would score four times in the bottom of the third inning to cut the deficit to one. Following a sacrifice fly from Devon White, Joe Orsulak singled home two. In the fourth, Gary Sheffield plated a run with a groundout and just like that, the teams were all square.

The Marlins got two scoreless innings from reliever Donn Pall. In the bottom of the fifth, pinch hitter Alex Arias put Florida in front to stay with an RBI single. An errant throw from Derek Bell in right field allowed a second run to score and what had been a 5-0 deficit had become a 7-5 Florida lead.

The Marlins, however, were far from done. In the sixth, RBI singles from White and Charles Johnson bookended an RBI triple from Terry Pendleton as the lead ballooned to 10-5. In the seventh, Édgar Rentería left the yard with a two-run home run before Pendleton plated his second run of the night with a single. Jesús Tavárez and White added RBI singles in the eighth to put the exclamation point on the win.

As a team, the Marlins finished with a then franchise-record 24 hits. Sheffield and Pendleton each finished the night with four hits. At the top of the order, Quilvio Veras and Rentería each went 3-for-6 with three runs scored.

While the Florida offense scored in six straight innings, the bullpen kept the Astros off the board over the final six frames. Pall earned the win while Donne Wall took the loss for Houston. Pall, David Weathers and Robb Nen combined to allow just two hits and one walk for the Marlins in relief.

The record 24 hits for Florida would last nearly seven years before being broken by the 2003 World Series-winning team on July 1. It, however, remains the second-highest single-game hit total in team history. It occurred on this day three decades ago.

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[Jose Herrera]

Love these! Thank you @Mike Ferguson