Mike Ferguson

Damion Easley and Carlos Delgado saved the day for the Florida Marlins on May 24, 2005. Both former All-Stars in the American League, neither Damion Easley nor Carlos Delgado were members of the Florida Marlins for very long. The two combined to play just three seasons in teal, but on this day 20 years ago, their presence was felt in South Florida. After trailing 3-0 late, Easley and Delgado provided the heroics. Following a game-tying home run from Easley in the ninth, Delgado sent the home crowd away happy with a walk-off double in the 10th as Florida defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in extras, 4-3. Entering the bottom of the eighth at Dolphins Stadium on May 24, 2005, the Marlins were on the short end of a 3-0 score. Thanks to a balk by Philadelphia's Ryan Madson and an RBI groundout from Florida catcher Paul Lo Duca, the Marlins were able to push a pair of runs across in the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, however, the Phillies were an out away from securing the victory. Against now Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner, Easley was able to get ahead in the count against the hard-throwing lefty. Wagner's 3-1 fastball was left out over the middle of the plate and Easley pulled a no-doubter over the "teal tower" in left field to draw the Marlins even at 3-3. After Florida reliever John Riedling was able to strand Jimmy Rollins at second in the top of the 10th, Joe Dillion started the Marlins' half of the inning by drawing a six-pitch walk from Amaury Telemaco. Telemaco bounced back to strike out Jeff Conine before getting Lo Duca to line out, but with Delgado coming to the plate, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel went to the left-hander in the bullpen. Aaron Fultz threw just one pitch for the Phillies, but it was tomahawked by Delgado into the right-center field gap and rolled all the way to the wall. Dillon scored from first without a throw to complete the Marlins' comeback. Rollins finished with three hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Phillies. Chase Utley and David Bell each went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Easley had two of the six hits for Florida, but none were bigger than his game-tying blast in the ninth. It came in a thrilling Marlins victory on this day two decades ago. View full article

The immigration controversy in 2000 crossed into the sports world, especially for those in South Florida. In late April of 2000, South Florida was the center for major headlines. That however, had little to do with the Florida Marlins. In Miami, Cuban Americans were calling for a work stoppage in response to the case of 6-year-old Elián González. A defector from Cuba, the young Elian was taken from his great uncle’s South Florida home by the U.S. government and returned to his father in communist Cuba. In a display of solidarity with the locals, several Florida players, coaches and members of the front office elected to miss a home game against the San Francisco Giants at Pro Player Stadium on April 25, 2000. Third baseman Mike Lowell was the most notable Marlin to miss the contest, but pitchers Vladimir Núñez, Alex Fernández, Antonio Alfonseca, Jesús Sánchez and Michael Tejera elected to be absent as well. Outfielder Danny Bautista also elected to sit out. Two San Francisco Giants of Cuban heritage elected not to show, including former Florida pitcher and 1997 World Series MVP Liván Hernández. In what was the opener of a two-game set, the contest went 11 innings. The Giants ultimately prevailed, 6-4, as Florida was handicapped by a limited bench and bullpen and a schedule that had them playing their 14th game in as many days. Florida trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, but drew even on sacrifice flies by Mark Smith and Kevin Millar. In the top of the 11th, San Francisco pushed across two runs against Marlins’ reliever Dan Miceli. After an RBI double by Armando Rios broke a 4-4 tie, the Giants added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Bill Mueller. With a limited bench, the Marlins had to turn to Brad Penny to pinch hit to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Smith was able to single for Florida with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, but San Francisco’s Mark Gardner retired both Preston Wilson and Millar to end the contest. The loss began a five-game losing streak for the Marlins and a 1-8 stretch, but for one night, team members were focused on something bigger than baseball. That came on this day a quarter-century ago. View full article