Over the years, late-game mistakes have played a part in deciding walk-off wins between the Florida/Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. In 1993, the Braves beat the Marlins on a walk-off balk by Matt Turner. Seven years later, John Rocker returned the favor by dropping the ball while on the mound in a 3-2 victory for the Marlins.
On this day 15 years ago, it was a throwing error that gave the Marlins the walk-off victory. The Florida Marlins completed a comeback in a 6-5 victory, thanks to the misfortune of Atlanta reliever Mike Remlinger, who threw just one pitch.
The Marlins had trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning at Dolphin Stadium on June 14, 2006, but drew even with three runs in the inning. After Cody Ross doubled home a run, former Atlanta utility man Wes Helms evened the game with a two-run home run – his second of the night.
Joe Borowski and Taylor Tankersley were able to strand Atlanta runners in scoring position over the next two innings as the contest headed to the bottom of the 10th, tied 5-5. Miguel Cabrera got the inning started for Florida with a double off Oscar Villareal. After Ross was hit by a pitch, the Braves turned to the lefty Remlinger to face Jeremy Hermida.
With Reggie Abercrombie pinch running at second, Hermida laid down a bunt that rolled hard back to Remlinger. Instead of taking the sure out, Remlinger tried to get the lead runner at third base, but his throw slipped past third baseman Chipper Jones. Abercrombie scored easily to give Florida the walk-off win.
Prior to the winning run, the Marlins never led. The Braves scored runs in four of the first five innings.
Jeff Francoeur got the scoring started for Atlanta with an RBI single off Dontrelle Willis in the first. The Marlins drew even in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by catcher Matt Treanor. The Braves regained the lead on a solo home run by Marcus Giles to lead off the third.
In the fourth inning, Atlanta extended the lead when Matt Diaz scored on a passed ball. Helms’ solo home run in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 3-2, but in the top of the fifth, Francoeur blasted a two-run shot off Willis to make it 5-2. The score remained until Florida’s three-run eighth.
The walk-off victory served as the fourth straight win during what would be a season-long eight-game winning streak for the Marlins in 2006. It happened on this day 15 years ago.