15-year Marliniversary: Petersen's walk-off homer gives Marlins final win at original ballpark

[Mike Ferguson]

Known as Pro Player Stadium for a longer stretch of the Florida Marlins’ time at their original ballpark than by any other name, the club’s biggest home win at the original stadium came in walk-off fashion. The same was true for its final win there, which came on this day 15 years ago.

In the next-to-last game of the season and next-to-last game at what was then Sun Life Stadium, Bryan Petersen was the unlikely hero on Sept. 27, 2011. His walk-off home run gave the Marlins their final home win at what was originally Joe Robbie Stadium and over the Washington Nationals, 3-2.

With the score tied 2-2, the Marlins came to bat against Washington’s Doug Slaten in the bottom of the ninth. Slaten was able to get two quick outs, striking out Logan Morrison on three pitches before getting John Buck to fly out to center.

With Petersen 0-for-2 with a strikeout to that point, extra innings seemed like an inevitability. Before anyone could blink, Petersen sent the crowd home happy for the final time.

Petersen turned on the first pitch he saw from Slaten – a fastball left over the middle of the plate. Faster than it arrived, Petersen’s shot left. His blast was a no-doubter well into the right-field stands, giving Florida the victory.

Prior to the walk-off bomb, the Marlins hadn’t led since the fourth inning when Emilio Bonifácio’s sacrifice fly plated Matt Dominguez. On the first pitch of the fifth, Mike Morse drew Washington even with a solo shot off Florida starter Javier Vázquez. After Ian Desmond singled home the go-ahead run for the Nationals in the top of the sixth, Bonifácio scored the tying run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame.

While John Lannan gave the Nationals a quality start, Vázquez ended up going the distance for Florida, striking out nine. Lead-off men and shortstops Bonifácio and Desmond each had two of the five hits for their respective teams.

Just 25 years old at the time, Petersen spent three seasons in the big leagues – all with the Marlins – and recorded just two career home runs. His last, however, will forever have the distinction of delivering the club its final win in its original stadium. It came on this day 15 years ago.

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