20-year Marliniversary: Cabrera turns intentional walk pitch into winning RBI

As a 12-time All-Star, two-time MVP and the last Triple Crown winner, Miguel Cabrera was one hitter that no pitcher looked forward to facing.

On this day 20 years ago, the Baltimore Orioles learned that even intentionally walking him wasn’t a sure thing. With the Orioles and Florida Marlins locked in a 5-5 tie in the 10th inning, Cabrera lined an intentional walk pitch that wasn’t far enough outside into centerfield for the go-ahead RBI as Florida completed a memorable comeback, 8-5.

After Baltimore scored four runs in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie, the Marlins trailed 5-1 entering the top of the ninth at Camden Yards on June 22, 2006. Florida was able to force extra innings by answering with four runs in the inning.

After singles by Cabrera and Jeremy Hermida chased LaTroy Hawkins, Baltimore turned to closer Chris Ray. Ray’s second pitch was hit by Josh Willingham for a sacrifice fly, but it also accounted for the second out. With Ray one strike away from ending it, Joe Borchard belted his 0-2 pitch the other way for a two-run home run to cut the lead to 5-4. Four pitches later, pinch hitter West Helms tied things up with a solo shot to left field.

With the score now tied 5-5, Randy Messenger was able to strand the winning run at second in the bottom of the ninth to get the game to extra innings. On the first pitch from Baltimore’s Todd Williams in the top of the 10th, Hanley Ramírez legged out a bunt single. Following a groundout from Mike Jacobs one pitch later, Cabrera came to the plate with the go-ahead run on second and first base open.

At the time, free passes were not automatic. Catcher Ramón Hernández stood way outside to signal an intentional walk, but his pitch was lobbed within arms’ reach of Cabrera. The Marlins third baseman stayed back and lined it to center, scoring Ramírez for the go-ahead run.

That’s all that Florida would need, but not all it would get. Williams bounced back by striking out Ross before the Orioles turned to lefty Kurt Birkins. Birkins allowed a single to Hermida before plunking Josh Willingham on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Borchard followed by grounding one to short, but an errant throw from former MVP Miguel Tejada allowed two runs to score and just like that, the Marlins had gone from down to their last strike to up 8-5.

In the bottom of the 10th, Joe Borowski needed just nine pitches to retire the Orioles in order and collect the save. Hermida finished with four hits and two runs scored in the win. Cabrera and Reggie Abercrombie each added two hits in the victory. Hernández had a pair of solo home runs for Baltimore, including a shot to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.

After splitting the first two games of the series, the thrilling comeback gave Florida the series victory. Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Cabrera had plenty of big hits and moments. None, however, were quite like his winning single that came at Camden Yards on this day two decades ago.