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.

2001

Phillies 6, Marlins 5, 13 innings

Eric Owens and Cliff Floyd went deep. Luis Castillo and Preston Wilson had two hits each. The Marlins took the Phils to extras, but couldn’t hold it together.

Ryan Dempster gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks in five innings. Vladimir Nunez (0-1, 4.50) took the loss.

2002

Expos 7, Marlins 6

Ryan Dempster pitched a quality start and earned no decision against the Expos. He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings. Braden Looper (0-1, 40.50) lost in walk-off fashion later in the game.

Preston Wilson hit a grand slam for the Marlins on the offensive side of the games, and Luis Castillo had a pair of base hits.

2003

Phillies 8, Marlins 2

Carl Pavano (0-1, 7.50) lost his first start of the season, giving up five runs in six innings on seven hits and three walks. He struck out three. Ivan Rodriguez collected a pair of base hits and the only Marlins RBI for the game as Randy Wolf (1-0, 1.50) kept Florida’s bats quiet.

2004

Blaine Neal and Michael Tejera were optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in the Pacific Coast League. Ruddy Lugo signed through free agency, and Gerald Williams, Steven Kent, and Tanyon Sturtze were released. Williams, a 12-season major league veteran outfielder at the time, had gone four-for-31 for the 2003 Marlins, and later caught on with the New York Mets.

2005

The Marlins purchased the contracts of Brian Moehler and Lenny Harris from the Isotopes. Miami native Harris was in his third season with the Marlins, and the last year of his 18-season major league career. He hit .314/.385/.414 at the age of 40 for Florida, and later joined the coaching staff.

2006

The Florida Marlins purchased the contract of Matt Herges from the minors. Herges pitched in 66 games for the Marlins that season, going 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA and 36 K’s in 71 innings. He posted a 1.718 WHIP. Florida was the sixth of an eventual eight major league teams to employ Herges through his 11-season major league career.

2007

Marlins 9, Nationals 2

Dontrelle Willis (1-0, 1.50) limited Washington to two runs (one earned) in six innings of work, on seven hits and a walk. He struck out three. Hanley Ramirez had four hits, Miguel Cabrera had three, including a homer, and both Miguel Olivo and Alejandro De Aza collected two apiece. Dan Uggla also went deep in the Marlins blowout.

2015

Steven Ames was released from the Zephyrs. Ryan Fisher and Collin Cargill were released from the Double-A Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League. Cody Keefer was released from the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League.

2016

Cameron Flynn was released from the Hammerheads. Nick White was released from the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League.

2017

The Marlins signed Vance Worley to a minor league deal and purchased the contract of Tyler Moore from the newly renamed New Orleans Baby Cakes. They also placed Odrisamer Despaigne (strained left oblique), Martin Prado (strained hamstrings), and Jeff Locke (left arm tendinitis) on the 10-day disabled list.

Worley, who once placed third in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2011 with the Philadelphia Phillies, held down a rotation spot for the Marlins a dozen times in 2017. He was 2-6, with a 6.91 ERA, a 1.800 WHIP, and 50 whiffs in 71 2/3 innings.

2018

Red Sox 7, Marlins 3

Starlin Castro had three hits, and Brian Anderson hit his first homer of the season in defeat for the Marlins with 11,113 in the house at Marlins Park. Cameron Maybin and Lewis Brinson also pitched in with multiple hits.

Trevor Richards (0-1, 10.38) took the loss for the Marlins, giving up five runs on eight hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five. Junichi Tazawa struck out a batter over 1 2/3 relief innings.

The Miami Marlins signed Josh Roeder and Josh Hart to minor league deals. They designated Severino Gonzalez for assignment, and purchased Trevor Richards’ contract from the also renamed Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

2019

Mets 6, Marlins 5

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• Miami Marlins players & the 2023 Hall of Fame
• Former Miami Marlins star is retiring
• Gary Sheffield or Mark Buehrle, will either Marlin make the Hall of Fame?
• Why don’t we see more dynasties? Part 3

With 5,934 present at Marlins Park, the Mets dropped the Fish, 6-5. Starlin Castro led the way with three hits to include his second homer of the season. The Marlins totaled 16 hits altogether, including three from Lewis Brinson and a pair each from Brian Anderson and Martin Prado.

Jose Urena (0-2, 10.38) took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings. Tayron Guerrero and Austin Brice each pitched a perfect inning of relief.

Elvis Araujo was assigned to the Jumbo Shrimp, and Matt Snyder was sent down to the minors. Snyder has since joined the Marlins coaching staff as hitting coach with the Single-A Clinton LumberKings in the Midwest League.