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In the early 2000s, the Florida Marlins were known for their speed. In a four-year span from 2000 to 2003, the Marlins led Major League Baseball in stolen bases three times.
On this day in 2000, the Marlins did something that had never been done in team history. It’s also something that hasn’t been done in Major League Baseball since: they stole 10 bases without being caught once. The Marlins suffered a 6-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on May 18, 2000, but they made it a memorable night as four different players swiped multiple bases.
In the first inning alone, Florida stole four bases. After walking to open the game, Luis Castillo stole second before coming around to score on an RBI single by Cliff Floyd. On the basepaths, Floyd swiped second and third. Preston Wilson walked and stole second in the first inning. He and Floyd were left in scoring position after Brant Brown was struck out swinging to end the frame. Only one run to show for all that effort, but at least they were able to take an early lead.
The Marlins would steal three more bases in the third inning, but again, left a pair of runners in scoring position. After a one-out single, outfielder Mark Kotsay swiped second and third for Florida. Wilson again walked and stole second, but Kevin Millar grounded out to end the frame.
The Marlins entered the bottom of the fifth inning, trailing 3-1, following Eric Owens’ two-run single and a Ryan Klesko solo home run. Once again, their legs kept things interesting. After a one-out single by Castillo, the Florida second baseman swiped second and third before scoring his second run of the night on an RBI single from Floyd with two outs. Floyd stole second, but was left at second when Wilson struck out looking.
The Padres used a two-run single from Ruben Rivera in the eighth to push the lead to 5-2. Phil Nevin added an RBI triple in the ninth.
Castillo and Floyd each swiped three bases for the Marlins in the loss. Kotsay and Wilson each stole two. Floyd drove in Castillo twice for the team’s only runs of the game. Danny Bautista’s double was the lone extra-base hit of the night for Florida. Castillo had set the individual franchise record the night prior—also versus San Diego—with four stolen bases.
The big night on the bases made the Marlins the first team to steal 10 bases in a game since the Colorado Rockies four years earlier. It was one shy of the most for a National League team since 1900. It happened on this day 20 years ago.