The Florida Marlins were again the Wild Card in the Fall Classic in 2003. And as, they did in the 1997 World Series, they won it all! The twist, this time was a double twist, actually. The beat the New York Yankees, who'd won three straight from 1998 to 2000. And then their was the matter of home-field advantage. Actually, it proved to be home-field disadvantage for Florida!
Ariving for the National League Division Series against San Francisco, they'd have to take down Barry Bonds and his teammates. Right there in San Francisco. However, after losing 2-0 in the opener at Pac Bell Park, Florida won the next game for the split. Coming home, they won two games by one run each.
Then came the National League Championship Series against Chicago. And the Cubs lost the opener at home. However, seeking their first Fall Classic appearance in 58 years, Chicago won the next three games. Florida sent it back to The Windy City with a 4-0 win the fifth game. And then, the fan touched the ball, right?
Indeed. The Cubs seemed destined to win that series, and were up 3-0 going into the top of the eighth. But fate interviened on the Marlins behalf. 8 runs later, they were on their way to game seven. There, they dug deep to hand Chicago a heart-breaking defeat!
But, waiting for them in the Fall Classic was the New York Yankees. This thing was starting in the Bronx, of course. Didn't the Marlins have enough adversary already? But this was a team that was just going to find a way to win. Somehow or some way!
The Marlins went to Yankee Stadium and won a tight one, 3-2, in the opener. This game was a great pitcher's duel between David Wells of New York and Brad Penny of Florida. Game two, alas, was all New York. Andy Pettitte pitched a gem of a game. New York crossed the plate three times in the bottom of the first, and that was more then enough in a game that ended 6-1, New York. It was all tied heading down to the heat down south. But Florida was feeling head of a different kind in game three.
Different location, same result. Same score, too. That put the Yankees up two games to one in this thing. The Marlins needed to get at least one in New York after game five. If they made it that far.
The Marlins managed to win game four. But like game one, it was close. They needed twelve innings to do it. Florida was leading 3-1 going into the top of the ninth, when New York scored twice to tie it.
Game five was a slugfest, and Florida pulled it out. But they almost blew it, again. They put across three in the bottom of the second to erased a 1-0 New York lead. By the bottom of the fifth, it was 6-1, Marlins. Another 6-1 game, only this time in Florida's favour. It was not to be.
Derek Jeter singled home a run in the top of the seventh. It was still 6-2, Florida. But then New York really started to make some noise in the top of the ninth. Right when they always do. Or so it seems in the Fall Classic.
Pinch hitter Jason Giambi hit a one-out solo home run to cut the lead to 6-3. New York was not finished. Jeter, clutch as always followed that with a double. Then, Erique Wilson hit a double of his own. Jeter scored and it was a 6-4 game with the tying run at the dish and only one out.
Ugueth Urbina, the Marlins' closer, was probably looking forward to a night off, or maybe getting ready for an appearance in game six (And seven, if necessary). But Urbina was needed now.
He got Bernie Williams on a fly to right. It was deep enough to move Wilson to third, but that run didn't mean a thing. The man at the dish did. Now, the Marlins needed to get just one more out to go up three games to two.
Hidecki Matsui was that batter. Swinging at the first pitch, he sent one to first that Derek Lee fielded and made the final putout himself. Florida had the win and the series lead. But, having the home-field disadvantage meant they had to win either game six or game seven on the road.
Josh Beckett made that task a little easier for Florida. He pitched the finest game of this Fall Classic. He and Pettitte put zeros on the board through four. In the top of the fifth, Beckett got what he needed, one run. The next inning, Florida put across another runner to make it 2-0. That would prove to be the final score. That performance helped earn Beck the MVP.
Florida had won it all in enemy territory. It had been a common theme in the postseason for them. Of the two World Series they won, this was actually tougher, as they were facing the mighty Yankees with their history, tradition and all. Plus, they had to be a little road-weary, eh?
References
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
Ariving for the National League Division Series against San Francisco, they'd have to take down Barry Bonds and his teammates. Right there in San Francisco. However, after losing 2-0 in the opener at Pac Bell Park, Florida won the next game for the split. Coming home, they won two games by one run each.
Then came the National League Championship Series against Chicago. And the Cubs lost the opener at home. However, seeking their first Fall Classic appearance in 58 years, Chicago won the next three games. Florida sent it back to The Windy City with a 4-0 win the fifth game. And then, the fan touched the ball, right?
Indeed. The Cubs seemed destined to win that series, and were up 3-0 going into the top of the eighth. But fate interviened on the Marlins behalf. 8 runs later, they were on their way to game seven. There, they dug deep to hand Chicago a heart-breaking defeat!
But, waiting for them in the Fall Classic was the New York Yankees. This thing was starting in the Bronx, of course. Didn't the Marlins have enough adversary already? But this was a team that was just going to find a way to win. Somehow or some way!
The Marlins went to Yankee Stadium and won a tight one, 3-2, in the opener. This game was a great pitcher's duel between David Wells of New York and Brad Penny of Florida. Game two, alas, was all New York. Andy Pettitte pitched a gem of a game. New York crossed the plate three times in the bottom of the first, and that was more then enough in a game that ended 6-1, New York. It was all tied heading down to the heat down south. But Florida was feeling head of a different kind in game three.
Different location, same result. Same score, too. That put the Yankees up two games to one in this thing. The Marlins needed to get at least one in New York after game five. If they made it that far.
The Marlins managed to win game four. But like game one, it was close. They needed twelve innings to do it. Florida was leading 3-1 going into the top of the ninth, when New York scored twice to tie it.
Game five was a slugfest, and Florida pulled it out. But they almost blew it, again. They put across three in the bottom of the second to erased a 1-0 New York lead. By the bottom of the fifth, it was 6-1, Marlins. Another 6-1 game, only this time in Florida's favour. It was not to be.
Derek Jeter singled home a run in the top of the seventh. It was still 6-2, Florida. But then New York really started to make some noise in the top of the ninth. Right when they always do. Or so it seems in the Fall Classic.
Pinch hitter Jason Giambi hit a one-out solo home run to cut the lead to 6-3. New York was not finished. Jeter, clutch as always followed that with a double. Then, Erique Wilson hit a double of his own. Jeter scored and it was a 6-4 game with the tying run at the dish and only one out.
Ugueth Urbina, the Marlins' closer, was probably looking forward to a night off, or maybe getting ready for an appearance in game six (And seven, if necessary). But Urbina was needed now.
He got Bernie Williams on a fly to right. It was deep enough to move Wilson to third, but that run didn't mean a thing. The man at the dish did. Now, the Marlins needed to get just one more out to go up three games to two.
Hidecki Matsui was that batter. Swinging at the first pitch, he sent one to first that Derek Lee fielded and made the final putout himself. Florida had the win and the series lead. But, having the home-field disadvantage meant they had to win either game six or game seven on the road.
Josh Beckett made that task a little easier for Florida. He pitched the finest game of this Fall Classic. He and Pettitte put zeros on the board through four. In the top of the fifth, Beckett got what he needed, one run. The next inning, Florida put across another runner to make it 2-0. That would prove to be the final score. That performance helped earn Beck the MVP.
Florida had won it all in enemy territory. It had been a common theme in the postseason for them. Of the two World Series they won, this was actually tougher, as they were facing the mighty Yankees with their history, tradition and all. Plus, they had to be a little road-weary, eh?
References
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
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