20-year Marliniversary: Errant throw completes comeback as Marlins walk-off Braves

After going just 11-31 over their first 42 games, the 2006 Florida Marlins tied a franchise record with nine straight wins from June 10 through 20. The lone walk-off win of that stretch came on this day 20 years ago.

In a contest in which the Marlins trailed by three in the eighth inning, a throwing error allowed the winning run to score. An errant throw led to celebration as Florida rallied past the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings, 6-5.

The Marlins trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning at Dolphins Stadium on June 14, 2006. Against Atlanta reliever Ken Ray, it was a nine-pitch walk to Miguel Cabrera with one out that started the Florida rally.

Three pitches later, Cody Ross plated the first run of the inning with an RBI double. Jeremy Hermida followed by working a seven-pitch at-bat but ultimately struck out swinging. To the plate came former Atlanta utility man Wes Helms.

Helms had belted a solo home run in the fourth inning that cut the deficit to 3-2. After getting ahead in the count, Helms blasted Ray’s 3-1 offering over the “teal tower” in left-centerfield for the game-tying two-run home run.

With the score now tied 5-5, Joe Borowski worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth with consecutive strikeouts. In the top of the 10th, Florida lefty Taylor Tankersley used consecutive strikeouts to end the inning and leave the go-ahead run in scoring position.

In the bottom of the inning, Cabrera lined a double off Óscar Villarreal to get things started. Villarreal hit Ross the very next pitch.

The Braves turned to lefty Mike Remlinger, who fired just one pitch; it was the ensuing throw, however, that proved costly. As he fielded the bunt from Hermida, Remlinger tried to get the lead runner at third but his throw went past teammate Chipper Jones, allowing pinch runner Reggie Abercrombie to score the walk-off run and the Marlins to complete the comeback.

The Marlins won despite being outhit 13-9. Helms finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Ross, Cabrera and Alfredo Amézaga each finished with two hits.

Marcus Giles and Jeff Francoeur each finished with two hits and a home run for Atlanta. Francoeur recorded three RBIs. Matt Diaz added three hits in the loss.

After winning the first game of the set by a 4-1 score, Florida completed the three-game sweep of the Braves with a 3-2 win the following night. For the month of June, the Marlins went a stellar 18-7 in 2006. The lone walk-off win from that month came on this day two decades ago.