20-year Marliniversary: Fish rally in San Francisco to even NLDS

For the 2003 Florida Marlins, resiliency, clutch hits, big-time performances and late-inning heroics were engrained in their character. On this day 20 years ago, those things reared their head for the first time that postseason.

After getting shut out by Jason Schmidt in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Marlins rallied to get a split against the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area. The bats erupted late as Florida claimed a 9-5 victory in Game 2.

Following a two-run double from Edgardo Alfonzo and an RBI groundout from Marquis Grissom, the Giants took a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning on Oct. 1, 2003. The Marlins would answer with runs in each of the next four innings.

Florida drew even with three runs in the fifth. Following an RBI single from Juan Pierre and an RBI groundout by Luis Castillo, catcher Ivan Rodriguez came through with a clutch two-out single of his own to score Pierre and knot the game at 4.

San Francisco pulled back in front in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single from J.T. Snow. Trailing 5-4 with runners on the corners and nobody out, Rick Helling and Carl Pavano combined to get out of the jam with no further damage.

In the top of the sixth, Florida went ahead for good. Juan Encarnacion’s solo home run tied the game and began a string of five straight hits. Pierre’s two-run double scored Conine and Alex Gonzalez to put the Marlins in front for good, 7-5.

Chad Fox worked two scoreless innings while the Florida offense continued to tack on. Conine’s RBI groundout in the seventh extended the lead to 8-5. An error by Grissom in centerfield in the eighth allowed Pierre to come home from second to cap the scoring.

Pierre powered the Florida offense on a 4-for-5 day with three runs scored and three RBIs. Conine and Alfonzo each added two hits for their respective teams.

The Marlins would go on to win the next two games at home to advance to the National League Championship Series. During a season in which the Giants won 100 games, it ultimately ended with a four-game exit against the eventual champion Marlins. The final game of the season at Pacific Bell Park came on this day two decades ago.

Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson