This Day in Marlins History: April 6
The Marlins are 9-13 in 22 contests on April 6 throughout their 27-season history.
1978
Blaine Neal was born on this date 42 years ago. A fourth-round pick of the Marlins back in 1996, he eventually made it to the majors with the parent club in 2001. Over parts of three seasons pitching for Florida, he struck out 46 in 59 1/3 innings, with a 3-0 record, a 5.03 ERA, and a 1.78 WHIP.
1993
Dodgers 4, Marlins 2
A day after starting their history with a 6-3 victory, the Florida Marlins were topped by the Dodgers with 42,689 in the house at Joe Robbie Stadium. It was the last time the Marlins were ever a .500 franchise.
Walt Weiss, Jeff Conine, and Scott Pose all collected multiple hits, including a double by Pose. Interesting side-note, Pose collected hits in Florida’s first six ever contests, going eight-for-26 with two doubles and three RBI, then never got another hit for the Marlins again. Demoted near the end of April, it would take Pose another four years before reemerging at the major league level with the New York Yankees in 1997.
Jack Armstrong (0-1, 5.68) was tabbed with the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts. Bob McClure, Richie Lewis, Luis Aquino, and Trevor Hoffman went the rest of the way without allowing a run, although Aquino did walk three in 1 2/3 innings.
1994
Dodgers 3, Marlins 2
Florida outhit the Marlins, eight-to-five, but dropped to 0-2 for their sophomore campaign with 44,393 in attendance at Dodger Stadium.
Ryan Bowen (0-1, 3.38) took the loss, pitching a complete game and walking two while striking out three. Tom Candiotti matched him, surrendering one fewer run and striking out four.
Bret Barberie led Miami’s offense with a single, a double, and a solo home run. Jeff Conine also connected on a solo shot in defeat.
1996
Marlins 1, Giants 0, 10 innings
A fantastic performance by Kevin Brown pushed the Marlins to 2-3 in the early going versus Mark Leiter and the Giants with 34,002 present at Joe Robbie Stadium.
Brown lasted eight frames, striking out three and allowing seven hits with zero walks. He earned no decision, while reliever Robb Nen (1-0, 0.00) struck out four in two perfect innings of relief.
Charles Johnson collected a single and a double, and Terry Pendleton also had a pair of hits, including the walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th inning off Giants reliever Mark Deway.
1997
Marlins 3, Reds 2
The Florida Marlins continued to get a good jump on their first winning record with a victory over the Reds with 36,146 on hand at Pro Player Stadium. The win pushed their record to 5-1.
Kevin Brown (2-0, 0.64) struck out five and allowed two runs (one earned) in seven innings of work. Felix Heredia pitched a clean eighth, and Robb Nen earned his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
Brown actually opened the scoring in the bottom of the second by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Then, trailing by one in the sixth, he drove home Charles Johnson on a single. Jeff Conine drove the winning run in with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, getting Gary Sheffield home with another bases-loaded walk.
1998
Brewers 8, Marlins 5
After a season-opening victory, the Marlins dropped their sixth-straight game to drop to 1-6 with 17,940 on hand at Pro Player Stadium.
Edgar Renteria collected a pair of singles to lead the Marlins offense. Mark Kotsay connected for his first home run of the season, and Josh Booty collected the last of his four career RBI with a double.
Felix Heredia (0-2, 8.38) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings on eight hits and four walks. He struck out five.
1999
Mets 12, Marlins 3
The Marlins dropped to 1-1 for the season in front of 18,075 at Pro Player Stadium, getting dropped by the Mets by nine runs.
Livan Hernandez (0-1, 11.57) was charged with six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings for the loss. Florida collected eight hits in total, but nobody had a multi-hit game. Preston Wilson went deep with a two-run shot for his first homer of the season.
2000
Marlins 5, Giants 4
The Marlins topped the Giants to go to 2-2 for the season with 7,741 on hand at Pro Player Stadium.
Jesus Sanchez surrendered four earned runs on seven hits for no decision over seven innings. Dan Miceli (1-0, 0.00) got the win after throwing five pitches in the top of the ninth.
Trailing by four in the bottom of the fourth, Mark Kotsay got the Marlins on the board with a long ball. Preston Wilson and Mark Smith each had an RBI-single in the eighth to get the Marlins within a run. In the bottom of the ninth, Cliff Floyd walked the Giants off with a two-out, two-run homer.
The Marlins signed first baseman Randall Simon to a minor league deal through free agency. Simon never appeared in the majors for Florida, but he did enjoy an eight-season major league career for six different teams.
2001
Braves 7, Marlins 5
The Marlins dropped to 0-4 in front of 15,857 at Pro Player Stadium. Mike Lowell hit a grand slam for the Marlins, and Alex Gonzalez had a single and a double.
Jason Grilli (0-1, 4.76) started and lost for Florida, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out four. Greg Maddux (1-0, 0.00) got the win after five shutout, three-hit innings.
2002
Marlins 7, Phillies 3
With 18,591 present at Veterans Stadium, the Marlins topped the Phillies to go to 3-2 for the season. Josh Beckett struck out six over 6 2/3 innings for no decision, allowing three runs (two earned). Vladimir Nunez (1-0, 2.25) got the victory, with 2 1/3 shutout innings.
Mike Lowell and Alex Gonzalez both went deep for the first time in the season, and Gonzalez added a double and totaled three RBI in the game. Mike Redmond also had multiple hits in the game.
Outfielder Ryan Thompson signed a free agent deal with the Marlins. When he got to the majors with the team, he went nine-for-31 with five doubles and two RBI. Florida was the fifth of six major league teams that Thompson would appear for.
2003
Braves 13, Marlins 4
With 21,253 present at Turner Field, the Braves dropped the Marlins to 2-4 for the season.
Brad Penny (0-1) surrendered six runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings, with six strikeouts for the loss. Mike Lowell and Juan Encarnacion collected multiple hits in a losing effort for Florida.
2004
Marlins 4, Expos 3
The Marlins topped Montreal with 55,315 in the house at Pro Player Stadium to open the 2004 season. Livan Hernandez struck out eight over six innings, allowing two runs and earning no decision for the Expos. Josh Beckett whiffed nine in seven frames, bettering the former Marlins pitcher by allowing one run. Matt Perisho (1-0, 0.00) got the win for Florida.
Hee-Seop Choi hit a three-run homer to lead the Marlins offense, and Juan Pierre had two hits for Florida.
The Marlins signed corner IF/OF Brian Banks to a minor league contract through free agency.
2005
Braves 2, Marlins 1, 13 innings
The Marlins dropped to 1-1 with 20,317 in attendance at Dolphins Stadium after 13 innings with the Braves.
Al Leiter struck out three over 5 2/3 innings, earning no decision and surrendering one earned run. Juan Pierre and Paul Lo Duca collected a pair of hits each to lead the Marlins offense.
The Marlins claimed Reggie Abercrombie off waivers from the Diamondbacks, then optioned him to the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League.
2007
Phillies 8, Marlins 2
Florida dropped to 2-2 for the season with 40,937 on hand at Dolphin Stadium. Mike Jacobs and Miguel Olivo both had two hits to lead Florida’s offense.
Sergio Mitre (0-1, 1.80) struck out six over five innings, and allowed one run over five hits and one walk.
The Marlins signed Valentino Pascucci to a minor league deal through free agency, and assigned him to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in the Pacific Coast League. Pascucci never made it to the majors with the Marlins, but did later go three-for-11 in 10 games for the 2011 Mets.
2008
Pirates 9, Marlins 2
Florida dropped to 3-3 for the season in front of 10,431 at Dolphin Stadium.
Rick van den Hurk (0-1, 11.81) surrendered four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings, striking out four and taking the loss. He was optioned to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats in the Southern League following the contest. He was eventually 8-9 with a 5.96 ERA over 32 starts with Florida.
Jorge Cantu and Paul Hoover each had a pair of hits in defeat for the Marlins.
2009
Marlins 12, Nationals 6
Jorge Cantu, Jeremy Hermida, Emilio Bonfacio, and Hanley Ramirez each went deep on opening day for the Marlins, including an inside-the-parker from Bonifacio.
In Florida’s 12-6 victory over the Nationals at Dolphin Stadium, Emilio Bonifacio hits an inside-the-park home run, the first on Opening Day since Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski accomplished the feat in 1968. The round-tripper, one of four hits for the Marlins’ third baseman, is the first big league homer of his career. – nationalpastime.com
For Bonifacio, it was one of four hits in the game. Ramirez collected five RBI, and Cantu three. Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 7.50) was hardly at his best, but good enough for a win despite five earned runs on seven hits in six innings.
The Marlins placed Matt Lindstrom on day-to-day status with a rotator cuff injury.
2010
The Marlins assigned Brad Davis, Brian Lawrence, Bryan Petersen, Danny Richar, Donnie Murphy, Hector Luna, Kasey Olenberger, Logan Morrison, Ryan Klosterman, Scott Strickland, and Vinny Rottino to the Triple-A PCL New Orleans Zephyrs. They also signed Alejandro Machado to a minor league deal through free agency.
2011
Marlins 7, Nationals 4
The Florida Marlins topped the Nationals with 13,825 at Sun Life Stadium to move to 3-2 for the season.
Chris Coghlan went four-for-five to lead the Marlins offense, and John Buck had two hits and three RBI. Chris Volstad earned no decision after giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks in five innings. Brian Sanches (1-0, 0.00) earned the victory with a perfect sixth inning.
Giancarlo Stanton was moved to day-to-day status with a strained left hamstring. The Marlins signed Erik Lis to a free agent deal. After going 11-for-61 in 26 games for the Jacksonville Suns, he was granted free agency.
2013
Mets 7, Marlins 3
The Miami Marlins dropped to 1-4 with 28,474 in attendance at Citi Field. Juan Pierre, Giancarlo Stanton, Greg Dobbs and Miguel Olivo each collected two base hits in the loss.
Ricky Nolasco earned no decision after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings of work. Ryan Webb (0-1, 5.40) took the loss after giving up two earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.
2014
Padres 4, Marlins 2
The Marlins dropped to 5-2 with 22,496 in the house at Marlins Park. Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 3.46) took the loss by surrendering three runs on six hits and zero walks in seven frames. He struck out eight.
Offensively, the Miami Marlins only managed five hits. Christian Yelich hit a triple, Jeff Baker hit a double, and Giancarlo Stanton and Jeff Baker had RBI singles.
2015
Braves 2, Marlins 1
The Marlins opened 2015 with a loss in front of 36,969 at Marlins Park against the Braves. Martin Prado and Marcell Ozuna had two hits each, and Henderson Alvarez added a double.
Alvarez (0-1, 2.57) allowed two runs in seven innings, on six hits. He gave up zero walks and struck out two. Mike Dunn struck out the side in a perfect eighth.
The Miami Marlins signed Nick Masset to a minor league contract through free agency. Eventually, he appeared in eight games for the Marlins, pitching to a 1.86 ERA in 9 2/3 innings.
2016
Tigers 7, Marlins 3
With 17,883 on hand at Marlins Park, the Tigers defeated Jose Fernandez (0-1, 7.94) despite 13 strikeouts in only 5 2/3 innings. It was his first loss at home after 17 victories to start his major league career. Fernandez allowed five runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings to send the Marlins to 0-2.
Dee Gordon collected three singles, and Adeiny Hechavarria added two doubles in defeat. Opening day starter Wei-Yin Chen was moved to day-to-day status with an elbow injury.
2017
Marlins 4, Nationals 3, 10 innings
The Marlins moved to 1-2 with their first win of the year. Tom Koehler struck out four over five innings for no decision, allowing one run on four hits and three walks. David Phelps (1-1, 9.00) got the win with a clean ninth inning. AJ Ramos collected his first save of the season.
J.T. Realmuto led the Marlins offense with three hits, including his second homer of the season. Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich also each had a pair of hits.
The Miami Marlins released former major league pitchers Caleb Thielbar and Nick Maronde from their minor league system.
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- 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
2018
The Marlins assigned Elieser Hernandez to the minors for rehab and signed reliever Dustin McGowan to a minor league contract.
2019
Marlins 4, Braves 2
The Miami Marlins pushed their record to 3-6 for the season with 35,618 in the house at SunTrust Park. Jorge Alfaro hit two homers for three RBI, accounting for most of Miami’s offense.
Sandy Alcantara got no decision, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks in four frames. Sergio Romo (1-0, 12.00) got the win with 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief. Adam Conley collected his first save.