20-year Marliniversary: Fish take series from Mets on Cabrera's bases-clearing double in 8th

[Mike Ferguson]

The 2006 New York Mets won 97 games and finished one win short of the National League pennant. Beating the Florida Marlins, however, proved to be a difficult task.

The Mets narrowly won the season series over the Marlins, taking nine of 17 meetings. To open the month of August, however, it was Florida that found the magic. The Marlins took the three-game set from New York with two wins in their final at-bat, clinching the series on this day 20 years ago.

After winning the series opener on a walk-off home run from Josh Willingham, Florida was looking to take the set as the teams met for the rubber game at Dolphins Stadium on Aug. 3, 2006. Ultimately, it was Miguel Cabrera’s bases-clearing double that delivered the Marlins to a 4-1 win and a series victory.

After a Mike Jacobs solo home run gave Florida a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Mets answered with a run in the seventh. After eight strong innings on the mound from starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis, the Marlins put him in line to be the winner.

Facing right-hander Aaron Heilman, Miguel Olivo started the bottom of the eighth with a lead-off single on the first pitch. Alfredo Amézaga followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt before Hanley Ramírez walked on four pitches.

With two on, Heilman struck out Dan Uggla on three pitches, but followed by walking Jacobs on four. That brought Cabrera to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. On the first pitch of the at-bat, the Florida third baseman unloaded the bags with a double that rolled all the way to the wall, giving the Marlins a 4-1 lead.

After eight innings from Willis, who scattered seven hits and three walks while allowing just an unearned run, Florida got a 1-2-3 ninth from Joe Borowski to seal the win. Cabrera finished with two of the six Florida hits. José Valentín (3) and David Wright (2) combined for five of the seven hits for the Mets.

Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Cabrera had plenty of big hits. He had the biggest hit of the night for the Marlins on this day two decades ago.

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