25-year Marliniversary: Hernández picks up final Marlins win

A defector from communist Cuba, Liván Hernández remains one of the greatest stories in Florida/Miami Marlins history. As a rookie in 1997, Hernández finished as runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year and as the World Series MVP.

For his final two seasons as a member of the Florida Marlins, he was one of the top starting pitchers for a rebuilding franchise. On this day 25 years ago, he picked up his final win as a member of the Marlins. Hernández went eight strong innings on the mound and homered at the plate in an 11-4 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

After two scoreless innings to open the game on July 9, 1999 at Pro Player Stadium, the Marlins and Devil Rays traded runs in both the third and fourth innings. With the score tied 2-2 halfway through, Florida went ahead for good with five runs in the fifth. Hernández's blast highlighted the frame.

On the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth, Hernández belted Tampa Bay pitcher Ryan Rupe's offering over the "teal tower" in left field for a solo home run that put the Marlins ahead for good. Mark Kotsay pushed the lead to 5-2 with a two-run double later in the inning. A sacrifice fly by Mike Lowell and an RBI single from Mike Redmond extended the advantage to 7-2.

The Devil Rays tried to claw back with two runs in the sixth, ignited by a solo home run by John Flaherty. The Marlins countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Bruce Aven and an RBI double by Kevin Millar.

With the lead back to five at 9-4, Hernández had his only 1-2-3 inning of the night in the seventh, striking out the side of Dave Martinez, José Canseco and Fred McGriff. With the help of a double play, Hernández faced the minimum in the eighth.

Over his eight innings, Hernández allowed four runs, three earned, while scattering 11 hits and striking out seven. Florida added to its lead in the eighth with an RBI double from Millar and an RBI single from Preston Wilson.

While Hernández shined on the mound and scored a pair of runs, Aven went 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. Kotsay and Millar each added two hits. Flaherty finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for Tampa Bay in the loss.

Hernández would make two more starts as a member of the Marlins before being traded to the San Francisco Giants for Nate Bump and Jason Grilli. Hernández's final home start for Florida is where he would pick up his final victory as a member of the Marlins. It came on this day a quarter-century ago.