20-year Marliniversary: Mordecai hits Marlins' second walk-off homer in as many days

Walk-off home runs in Major League Baseball are a somewhat regular occurrence. Walk-off home runs in extra innings in consecutive days from non-starters – now, that’s rare.

But that’s what the Florida Marlins accomplished on this day 20 years ago. For the second day in a row, the Marlins used a walk-off blast to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. This time, it was Mike Mordecai who sent the home crowd home happy in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After Ramon Castro’s blasted lifted the Marlins to a 13-inning win the night before, the teams arrived at Pro Player Stadium for the third game of a four-game set on Aug. 13, 2003. For eight innings, an RBI single from Juan Pierre in the third had accounted for all of the scoring.

Leading 1-0 in the top of the ninth, Florida turned to the usually reliable Ugueth Urbina to close things out. Unfortunately for Urbina, he left with a blown save.

After a one-out single from Jeromy Burnitz, Paul Lo Duca doubled home the tying run. The Dodgers put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but the veteran closer was able to avoid further damage.

The bullpens traded zeroes for the next two innings before the Dodgers turned to Victor Alvarez in the bottom of the 11th. Alvarez started the inning by walking Luis Castillo, but he was erased when Ivan Rodriguez grounded into a double play. With two outs and nobody on, it was up to Mordecai to keep the contest from heading to the 12th.

Mordecai had entered the game as a pinch runner for Mike Lowell in the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch from Alvarez, he left as a hero.

On a breaking ball from Alvarez, Mordecai was able to drop the head of the bat and lift it over the wall in left field for a walk-off shot. It was the seventh walk-off home run of the season for the Marlins.

In his second season as a member of the Marlins, Mordecai hit two home runs, but both were game-winners in extra innings. Against the Atlanta Braves less than a month earlier, Mordecai came through with a blast in the top of the 12th for a 5-4 win. The only walk-off homer of his career came on his final bomb at Pro Player Stadium on this day two decades ago.

Photo by Jon Soohoo/Getty Images

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