With no fans in the stands, players wearing masks and National League teams using a designated hitter in intraleague games for the first time, the COVID-shortened 2020 season was unlike any other in the long history of Major League Baseball. For the Miami Marlins, however, the 60-game regular season did culminate in just their third postseason appearance.

On this day five years ago, the Marlins kicked off the campaign on the right foot. After five straight Opening Day losses, the Fish knocked off the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2.

Through five innings at Citizens Bank Park on July 24, 2020, the Marlins and Phillies found themselves tied 1-1. In the sixth, however, Miami seized control with four runs.

After Miguel Rojas walked to start the inning, it was Jesús Aguilar who came through with the biggest swing of the night. His two-run blast to left-center field on an 0-2 pitch from Aaron Nola put the Marlins ahead for good, 3-1.

Miami, however, wasn’t done scoring.

A double by Corey Dickerson followed and ended Nola’s night. Ramón Rosso got the call for Philadelphia and opened his night with a five-pitch walk to Harold Ramírez. Rosso was able to strike out Brian Anderson, but two wild pitches allowed Dickerson to score. Garrett Cooper capped the big inning with an RBI double to make it 5-1.

The Phillies were able to get an unearned run in the seventh when Miami’s Jonathan Villar dropped a routine fly to center field. After Brad Boxberger was able to prevent any further damage, Yimi García and Brandon Kintzler each worked scoreless innings to seal the deal.

Sandy Alcantara went 6 ⅔ strong innings for the Marlins, allowing just one earned run on three hits while fanning seven to get the win. Didi Gregorius homered in the fifth for the Phillies off Alcantara to tie the game. He finished with two of the five Philadelphia hits and scored its only two runs. For the Marlins, Dickerson and Rojas each finished with two hits.

The Marlins would take two of three from the Phillies before a COVID-19 outbreak forced Miami to take more than a week off. The Marlins, however, finished 31-29 before reaching the National League Division Series. 

During a season where teams were relegated to opponents from just two divisions, the Marlins went 7-3 against the Phillies. The first of those wins came in the season opener—Miami’s first Opening Day win since 2014—on this day five years ago.Â