15-year Marliniversary: Uggla’s walk-off grand slam propels Fish past Phillies

Dan Uggla ended his five-year tenure with the Florida Marlins as the club’s all-time leader in home runs. As a member of the Marlins, Uggla hit 154 home runs, including two grand slams.

His only grand slam at home came on this day and was of the walk-off variety. His blast lifted the Marlins to a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Florida took a 2-1 lead to the ninth inning at Dolphin Stadium on June 11, 2008. A pair of home runs by Jorge Cantu had accounted for all the Marlins offense, but with closer Kevin Gregg on the hill, it proved to not be enough.

A lead-off single by Greg Dobbs followed by a walk and a stolen base allowed for Philadelphia’s Chase Utley to pick up his second RBI with a game-tying groundout in the top of the ninth. Philadelphia would load the bases, but Gregg was able to avoid further damage. Still, the Phillies had new life.

In the bottom of the inning, the Phillies turned to Tom “Flash” Gordon with the score knotted at 2-2. A former All-Star for the club, Gordon began the inning with a four-pitch walk to Hanley Ramirez. After Jeremy Hermida popped out, Cantu singled to put the winning run in scoring position.

With Wes Helms at the plate, Gordon again struggled with his command as he issued his second four-pitch walk of the inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Uggla took his turn at bat.

Struggling to find the strike zone, Gordon fell behind 3-1. His fifth pitch to Uggla was in the second baseman’s wheelhouse. Uggla clobbered the 92-mph fastball for a no-doubter, unloading the bases and falling just shy of the second deck.

The blast served as the fourth walk-off homer of the season for the Marlins, the second walk-off hit for Uggla and it gave Florida the series victory over the Phillies. It came on this day 15 years ago. 

Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images