Greatest Moments in Marlins History: #8 Walk-Off Game 4

March 24, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Alex Gonzalez (11) is congratulated by third base coach Ed Sedar (6) after his 2nd inning solo home run against the Chicago White Sox at the Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to the Greatest Moments in Marlins History. Can it be? Is this the final home run moment of this list? Since we started writing these moments, we have encountered so many great home runs in Marlins history. Marlins fans could never forget Gary Sheffield’s home run at the All-Star Game, Jeff Conine’s home run at the All-Star Game, Jose Fernandez first home run, Mike Lowell’s NLCS home run, and so many more. For moment 8 we bring you probably the most important home run in Marlins history. Today we take you back to Game 4 of the 2003 World Series for Alex Gonzalez’s extra inning walk-off home run.

In moment 10 we talked about Miguel Cabrera’s home run in the 1^st inning of this game. Well, baseball doesn’t end in the 1^st inning and we had plenty of baseball left to play. As stated in the moment 10, the Marlins jumped to an early 2-0 lead and added one more run to make it 3-0 in the 1^st. The Yankees would cut into that lead in the 2^nd with an Aaron Boone sac fly to make it 3-1. After that Carl Pavano and Roger Clemens took over. For the next 5 innings Pavano and Clemens shut down any offense either team could muster up.   Clemens was pulled after the 7^th and Pavano was pulled after the 8^th. It was all up to the bullpen now.

The Yankees bullpen didn’t let the Marlins score a run in the 8^th and in the 9^th and in came Ugueth Urbina to close out the game and tie the series up. The only problem was that the Yankees were not going down quietly. The Yankees popped out, singled, walked and grounded out into a fielder’s choice before Ruben Sierra came in to pinch hit. All Urbina had to do was get this out and the game would be over. His first 3 pitches were balls, not a good start. Luckily, the next 2 were called strikes. Sierra would foul off the next 2 pitches. Full count, 7 pitches, and the 8^th on the way, what was going to happen? Well if you’re a Yankees fan you know that Sierra would triple to score 2 runs and tie the game up at 3-3. Urbina would get the next batter out but the damage was already done. The Marlins would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning and we were off to extra innings.

The 10^th inning was a little lackluster for both teams as neither team got to past 2^nd base.  The 11^th started with the Yankees loading the bases with one out, but couldn’t bring a runner home. The Marlins went down 1-2-3 to end the inning. The Yankees in the 12^th couldn’t get a run past 1^st and it was the Marlins turn in the bottom. Up first was Alex Gonzalez. Oh boy did he have a battle at the plate! The first pitch was a called strike. The next two were balls. Pitch four was another called strike. Pitch 5 was a ball, and we were at a full count. The next pitch Alex couldn’t lay off, and too bad he fouled it off. Pitch seven was pretty much the same as pitch six, another foul ball. Alex stepped out took a breath and went back into the batter’s box.  Pitch eight was on its way, and Alex let it rip! That was sent down the left field line, and if it stayed fair the game was over. I still remember watch the game on TV and seeing that ball just make it over the 330 sign in left field. Walk-off home run in extra inning of a World Series game! The Marlins win thanks to Alex!

That might be it for home runs on this list but we still have 7 more great moments you don’t want to miss. Come back tomorrow and see what else we have from 2003.