On This Date in Marlins History: April 2nd

The Florida and later Miami Marlins have played a total of a dozen times on April 2, but have lost 10 of them.

Like every other day of the year, if you go back far enough, a lot can be dug up through the history of a ball club. The Miami Marlins are no different. Despite a miserable 2-10 record through their history, some good has come of things on April 2nd in Marlins history.

1993

Tom McGraw was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for Jamie McAndrew. McGraw spent parts of three years in the Marlins system, going 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA in 51 contests for the Portland Sea Dogs in the Double-A Eastern League in 1995. He eventually played two major league games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997.

1996

Pirates 4, Marlins 1

Jeff Conine hit his first home run of the season for the Florida Marlins in the loss to the Pirates, with 20,243 in attendance at Joe Robbie Stadium. Unfortunately, none of the other six hits the Marlins cobbled together were more than singles, and none consecutively.

John Burkett (0-0, 0.00) put together a solid start in the loss, allowing only one unearned run on five hits and no walks. He struck out five over eight innings of work. Alejandro Pena surrendered three runs in the ninth for the loss.

1997

Marlins 4, Cubs 3

Jeff Conine led the eventual World Champion Marlins with three hits, including a double. Gary Sheffield and Luis Castillo also collected a pair of hits in the Marlins second straight win to start the season.

Al Leiter (1-0, 3.60) earned the win, surrendering two runs on four hits and three walks, striking out three in five innings. Robb Nen whiffed two in a perfect ninth for his first save. Later that day, Sheffield signed a substantial deal with Florida.

"Gary Sheffield (.314, 42, 120) and the Marlins agree to a six-year, $61 million contract extension. The deal is the largest in total dollars in baseball history, but is only the third-highest annual salary, behind Albert Belle‘s (1996-2000 White Sox – $11 million) and Barry Bonds‘ (1993-98 Giants – $11,131,157). – Nationalpastime.com"

1998

Cubs 8, Marlins 7

Florida strung together six runs in the first, but couldn’t sustain the lead with 17,209 in the house at Pro Player Stadium.

Gary Sheffield and Cliff Floyd each hit their second taters of the season. Ryan Jackson, Mark Kotsay, and Sheffield finished with a pair of hits each.

Rafael Medina gave up five runs in five innings for a no decision. Jay Powell (0-1, 9.00) took the loss by allowing a run on two hits in the ninth.

1999

The Florida Marlins lost 1B/OF Ryan Jackson off waivers to the Seattle Mariners. An eventual four-season major league vet, Jackson had the best season of his career with the 1998 Marlins, hitting .250/.305/.373 in 111 games.