20-year Marliniversary: Marlins score 2 in 9th, 2 in 10th to rally past Brewers

After winning their second World Series the previous year, the Florida Marlins could sense another postseason run slipping away by the latter parts of August 2004. On this day 20 years ago, the Marlins regained their spark with a thrilling comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Florida had slipped to two games below .500 after dropping the series opener at Miller Park. Following a 11-1 win victory in the middle game, the Marlins were looking to even their record as the clubs met for the rubber game on Aug. 15, 2004. The Brewers led most of the way, but two runs in the ninth and two more in the 10th were the difference as Florida rallied for a 5-3 victory.

The Marlins were unable to get anything against Milwaukee starter Doug Davis, who tossed seven shutout innings. Against the Brewers' bullpen, however, it would be a different story.

Trailing 3-0, Miguel Cabrera got the Marlins on the board in the eighth inning with a solo home run off Matt Wise. After Nate Bump was able to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, a fielding error by Brewers second baseman Bill Hall to open the ninth proved to be the break the Marlins needed.

With Álex González standing at first, Milwaukee closer Danny Kolb was able to get pinch-hitter Lenny Harris to fly out, but lead-off man Juan Pierre followed with an RBI triple. Two pitches later, Luis Castillo grounded the game-tying single up the middle.

Kolb was able to prevent further damage, but Rudy Seánez countered with a 1-2-3 ninth for Florida. Ben Hendrickson opened the 10th by retiring the first two Marlins hitters he faced, but the third out proved to be elusive.

Following a four-pitch walk to Juan Encarnación and a single from González, pinch-hitter Damion Easley lined a two-run double down the first-base line to give the Marlins their first lead, 5-3. Florida closer Armando Benítez struck out two during a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th to record the save.

Despite being shut out for seven innings, the Marlins outhit Milwaukee 11-7. Cabrera and catcher Paul Lo Duca each finished with two hits in the win. Russell Branyan finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored for the Brewers.

With the win, the Marlins got back to .500 at 58-58. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers the following day to get back over .500 and never fell under again in 2004.

The comeback win over Milwaukee came during a stretch in which the Marlins won 16 of 20 games. The latter part of September, however, killed any hope of a return to the postseason. Florida's win in Milwaukee served as its final extra-innings win of the year. It came on this day two decades ago.