Complete history of venues outside of South Florida being used for Marlins home games

With the release of the 2020 Major League Baseball schedule on Monday, it was learned that the Miami Marlins will be leaving the continental United States next season. The Marlins will close the month of April in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a three-game series with the New York Mets. Miami will be the home team for the three games.

The Puerto Rico Series will mark the fifth time in club history that the Marlins have played regular season home games outside of South Florida. Here’s a look at the four prior occasions.

Sept. 13-14, 2004

Opponent: Montreal Expos

Venue: U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois

Overview: The threat of Hurricane Ivan forced the Florida Marlins to play the first two games of a four-game set against the Montreal Expos in mid-September 2004 in the Windy City. The shift in venue didn’t seem to have any adverse effect on the Marlins as they won both games in Chicago by 6-3 and 8-6 scores.

In the first game of the series, the Marlins scored all six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Álex González ultimately put Florida ahead for good with a tie-breaking two-run single. After letting a 6-1 lead slip away in the second game, the Marlins were able to break a 6-6 tie with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tony Batista homered for Montreal in both games.

June 28-30, 2010

Opponent: New York Mets

Venue: Estadio Hiram Bithorn, Puerto Rico

Overview: Next year’s series in San Juan will serve as a repeat of 10 years prior when the then Florida Marlins took two of three games from the Mets. The three-game set was also scheduled before the season.

After taking the first game 10-3 behind homers from Cody Ross, Chris Coghlan and Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins clinched the series with a 7-6 walk-off win in the second game of the set. After the Mets tied the game with two runs in the ninth, Dan Uggla won it with a walk-off single in the bottom of the inning to score Jorge Cantu. Despite allowing 17 Florida hits in the series finale, New York avoided the sweep with a 6-5 victory.

June 24-26, 2011

Opponent: Seattle Mariners

Venue: Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington

Overview: A stadium dispute with U2 forced the Florida Marlins to play home games at their opponent’s home stadium in 2011. The Marlins wound up having to visit Seattle to “host” the home-standing Mariners.

For a series played under bizarre circumstances, it only seemed fitting that it would be decided in bizarre fashion. After the teams split the first two games, the Mariners went ahead for good in the top of the 10th in the rubber game when Florida reliever Steve Cishek uncorked a wild pitch while trying to issue an intentional walk to Carlos Peguero. Dustin Ackley scored from third to put Seattle ahead for good in a 2-1 win over the Marlins.

The Mariners opened the series with a 5-1 victory behind a stellar start from Félix Hernández. Hanley Ramírez plated a pair of runs for Florida the next night in a 4-2 victory for the Marlins.

Sept. 15-17, 2017

Opponent: Milwaukee Brewers

Venue: Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Overview: Hurricane Irma forced the Miami Marlins to travel to Milwaukee and play as the home team during a mid-September series against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017. The Brewers wound up taking two of three from the Marlins, thanks to eight-run innings in each of those victories.

After dropping the series opener, 10-2, the Marlins bounced back to win the second game, 7-4. Miami got things started with a four-run first before adding two more in the third and cruising to victory in the middle game. After scoring eight runs in the eighth to take the first game of the series, the Brewers used an eight-run fourth to break the rubber game wide open in a 10-4 win for Milwaukee.