25-year Marliniversary: Kotsay's go-ahead slam caps 4-hit night in comeback win over Brewers

A Golden Spikes Award winner at Cal State Fullerton, outfielder Mark Kotsay was never a Major League Baseball All-Star, but had a very good 17-year career. His first four seasons came with the Florida Marlins.

On this day 25 years ago, Kotsay finished with four hits and the Marlins needed every one of them. That included the go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning as Florida rallied past the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4.

Through six innings, the Marlins and Brewers were tied at Pro Player Stadium on June 21, 2000. In the top of the seventh, however, Jeromy Burnitz and Tyler Houston each took Florida starter Reid Cornelius deep for solo home runs. At the seventh-inning stretch, the Marlins were on the wrong side of a 3-1 score.

Derrek Lee singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Milwaukee starter Jimmy Haynes bounced back to retire Álex González and Paul Bako. After pinch hitter Mark Smith drew a five-pitch walk and the speedy Luis Castillo legged out an infield single to load the bases, the Brewers turned to lefty Valerio De Los Santos to face Kotsay.

To that point, Kotsay was 3-for-3 with three singles. Needing a single to tie the game, Kotsay got a center-cut fastball from De Los Santos and did much more. The left-handed Kotsay turned on the 1-1 pitch for a no-doubted into the right-field stands to give Florida a 5-3 lead.

The Brewers made things interesting in the top of the ninth against Florida closer Antonio Alfonseca. After pushing a run across to cut the deficit in half, Milwaukee put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs. Alfonseca was able to get Lyle Mouton to pop out to end the contest.

In addition to the big night from Kotsay, Castillo finished with two hits and two runs scored in the victory. Houston (3) and Charlie Hayes (2) combined for five of the 11 hits for the Brewers.

Throughout his lengthy big league career, Kotsay hit 127 home runs, including three grand slams. In the rubber game of the three-game series, Kotsay's last of two grand slams as a Marlin capped a four-hit night and gave Florida a thrilling come-from-behind victory. It came on this day a quarter-century ago.