5-year Marliniversary: Marlins blank Cubs to advance to NLDS – Marlins

During the then Florida Marlins’ run to the 2003 World Series title, the Fish clinched their final two series at historic venues — Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. It would be 17 years later before the now Miami Marlins returned to the playoffs, but that didn’t stop them from once again using the “friendly confines” of Wrigley to send the Chicago Cubs home for the winter.

On this day five years ago, the Marlins improved to 7-0 in playoff series. They swept the best-of-three National League Wild Card Series and advanced to the National League Division Series with a 2-0 win over the Cubs.

The Marlins used a five-run seventh inning to take Game 1 two days prior by a 5-1 score. As they arrived for Game 2 on Oct. 2, 2020, the offense was again slow to get going. For the second straight game, Miami had been held scoreless through six innings.

To that point, the Marlins had managed just two hits off Chicago starter Yu Darvish. Darvish opened the top of the seventh with two quick outs. Garrett Cooper followed with a bang to start a two-out rally.

On a 2-2 pitch from Darvish, Cooper hammered one into the empty left-field stands for the go-ahead solo home run. Now with a 1-0 lead, Matt Joyce followed with a double that bounced off the glove of a diving Ian Happ. Following a walk to Miguel Rojas, Magneuris Sierra lined a breaking pitch into right field for an RBI single.

Darvish’s day was done, but so was the Miami damage. 

On the mound, the Marlins benefitted from five shutout innings from rookie starter Sixto Sánchez, who allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out six. Brad Boxberger, Richard Bleier, Yimi García and Brandon Kintzler combined to allow just one hit and two baserunners the rest of the way. After giving up a lead-off double to Jason Heyward in the bottom of the ninth, Kintzler settled in to strike out the side to collect the save.

For the second game in a row, the seventh inning and the Miami pitching staff proved to be magical. The Marlins were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series to end their run of consecutive postseason series won.

The sweep of the National League Central champions at Wrigley, however, remains the last playoff series won by the Marlins. It was clinched on this day five years ago.